The article explores the complexities of women's beauty standards, particularly the narrative of tanning to achieve an idealized look reminiscent of the 1990s. The author reflects on her personal insecurities about her pale skin and the pressure to conform to societal notions of beauty, which emphasizes appearances. This pursuit of beauty is multifaceted, as it can serve as a bonding experience for women, challenging conventional self-optimization narratives while simultaneously exposing the underlying vulnerabilities that come with it.
I would hazard a guess that many women feel this way, beauty being a female-coded indulgence in a world where the most well-trodden vices... are the opposite.
the effort we put into how we look offers radical honesty, empowerment, choice, a 'safe space' for shame-free navigation of beauty standards.
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