Plastic Surgery: A Symptom of The Patriarchy - Or Should We Let Women Do What They Want With Their Body?!
Is plastic surgery a symptom of a patriarchal society or should we let women do whatever they want with their bodies?
As an intersectional feminist, weight neutral personal trainer and confidence coach, I want to discuss both sides of the coin here.
My response to this a few years ago would have been that plastic surgery is unnecessary, shallow and harmful. I would have encouraged women to embrace their perceived flaws and ‘love themselves’ rather than going under the knife. This reveals the unearned privileges I hold and shines a light on my previous naivety. Whilst I love the idea that all women could simply ‘love themselves’, I now understand it is not that simple. We live in a world filled with unattainable eurocentric beauty standards perpetuated by the inundation of photoshopped images we see on social media. Knowing what I know now and leaning into the nuance of this topic, my view is very different.
Whilst I definitely believe that plastic surgery is a result of living in a world where the male gaze is valued above everything [plastic surgery was after all, created by a man], I believe at the core of feminism is the freedom to do what we please with our bodies. Yes, that may reflect what is seen as the ‘ideal’ beauty standard - which also happens to be what men find desirable and attractive - but we must take into consideration what fitting into this ideal beauty standard affords us.
So, what is the current beauty standard? I say current because it is forever changing, as evident throughout history. During the Italian Renaissance the beauty standard was a rounded stomach, full hips, fair skin and an ample bosom. In contrast, the Roaring Twenties standard for women was a flat chest, downplayed waist and a ‘boyish’ figure. This yo-yoing of how a woman's body ‘should’ look continued throughout the decades and is something we will continue to see for a long time to come. The ideal beauty standard is impossible to keep up with and is constantly changing, yet we continue to try by whatever means necessary. Even if that means plastic surgery.
In Western culture the ideals lean towards being white, thin, young, cisgender and able bodied. So the more we conform to these ideals the more likely we are to benefit from them. The thing is, most of these ‘beautiful’ traits are not choices and would require surgery to replicate. Is it any wonder, then, that people - particularly those in the public eye - are turning towards plastic surgery? Whether it is a lack of self-confidence, an attempt to stay relevant and young or simply to remain ‘pretty’, there are many reasons why people get plastic surgery. Women are not afforded the luxury of ageing the same way that men are, and perhaps that plays a pivotal role in women getting plastic surgery. In a world where beauty is currency, and being pretty can get you far, many women [especially those in the public eye] may feel obliged to get surgery to ‘stay relevant’.
So, let’s talk Pretty Privilege. Those that are deemed conventionally attractive are received more kindly in this Western world. We are generally listened to more, respected more and valued more. This is obviously wrong and extremely reductive but it is the sad truth. The thing with Pretty Privilege is that we feel uncomfortable admitting it is something we possess. As women we have been conditioned to participate in self-loathing and self-deprecation. We fear we will be seen as cocky or vain if we recognise our Pretty Privilege. Yet, it is a very real thing and those that have it are afforded more opportunities and tend to have an upper hand in life because they fit the societal standard of beauty. As with all privileges, it is important we recognise which ones we hold so we can understand important issues through the lens of other humans that are not afforded those same privileges.
For example, when we approach this topic through the lens of trans and non-binary people who may wish to undergo gender-affirming surgery, it brings in this new nuance. Even if plastic surgery is a result of a patriarchal society, does it really matter? Whether this is or isn’t influenced by the male gaze and the expectation we as a society have of gender and beauty, is irrelevant. Plastic surgery in some cases can be healthcare. It can be lifesaving. It can be affirming. It is not as black and white as saying it is purely through vanity or lack of self-love or confidence that people choose to undergo plastic surgery. Being a cisgender woman I cannot comment on behalf of trans or non-binary folk, but I can understand why some people (including cis women) may feel the need to alter their appearance in order to adhere to society’s standard of femininity or beauty. Plastic surgery can mean receiving the privileges being ‘pretty’ affords. It provides a certain element of safety. Ironically, as women we generally feel unsafe for the same reasons we may be protected by ‘Pretty Privilege’; our femininity is weaponised against us when being seen as ‘pretty’ by the male gaze too often comes with assault and harassment. Once again, nuance matters here: marginalised people experience the violence of this weaponisation more than, say, white cis women. White cis women may experience the weaponisation of their femininity whilst still being protected by their white privilege. Two things can exist at once.
Is plastic surgery a symptom of the patriarchy? Probably, definitely, yes. Does it really matter? If people want to change their bodies, if it makes them feel confident and happy and safer in the world, is that really any of our business? I think we have developed a sense of entitlement over other humans and what they do with their bodies. Not just in terms of plastic surgery but also with weight. We feel entitled to comment on others' weight and there is a flurry of ‘worrying about fat people’s health’ which is just thinly-veiled fatphobia. If people really cared about health as much as they profess, we would be banning alcohol and smoking and the 9-5 structure within work [which is known to create significant stress and therefore can’t be healthy].
Rather than focusing on whether people should or shouldn’t be having plastic surgery, as if it is an indication of someone’s moral goodness, maybe we should be focusing on the real issue here. Why are we still so obsessed with picking apart women’s choices and conflating their worth with how they look?
Written by Georgia Holliday
Georgia is a multi-passionate human, with strong interests in feminism, LGBTQIA+ issues and mental health. Writing and sharing content is one of her favourite ways to raise awareness around these issues and connect with others. Georgia is a women’s confidence coach and weight neutral personal trainer who is dedicated to supporting women in becoming the most unapologetic and authentic versions of themselves.
