The Beauty Industry and Its Effect on Women
The Beauty Industry and Its Effect on Women
Shawntay McLean
DeVry University
The Beauty Industry and Its Effect on Women
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant amount of research done on the effect that advertising in the fashion and beauty industry has on women. By creating advertisements with unrealistic images of beauty, it has resulted in anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence in many women. Most of these negative emotions stems from unhappiness among body and appearance. Less research has been performed relating to cosmetics and how this can have an influence on women, and how women can use cosmetics to manipulate their appearance. This paper will discuss some of the existing research that focuses on the cosmetic; hair and clothing industry’s influence on women. Younger women use more cosmetics, are very aware of the cosmetic industry, and that emotions and low self-esteem can have an effect on the choices a woman makes regarding her appearance.
Women in today’s society are constantly being reminded of what is considered beautiful. There are thousands of advertisements that promote this elusive beautiful image to women of all ages, shapes and sizes. By glorifying celebrities and super models, society has built up impossible standards of beauty, which led to feelings of inadequacy among women. The YWMCA reported that $7 billion is spent each year on cosmetics (Beauty at Any Cost, 2008, p. 2). Among those big sellers were Cover Girl, Revlon and MAC. From a young age, girls are taught to experiment with makeup to increase their attractiveness. Different amounts can be applied as needed, and it works as a temporary boost in self-esteem. What is so appealing to most women about cosmetics is that it can be a quick an easy way to temporarily solve beauty problems.
One of the first studies that involved the effect of cosmetics on women was done by
Marsha L. Richins along with Peter H. Bloch, “You Look
Shawntay McLean
DeVry University
The Beauty Industry and Its Effect on Women
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant amount of research done on the effect that advertising in the fashion and beauty industry has on women. By creating advertisements with unrealistic images of beauty, it has resulted in anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence in many women. Most of these negative emotions stems from unhappiness among body and appearance. Less research has been performed relating to cosmetics and how this can have an influence on women, and how women can use cosmetics to manipulate their appearance. This paper will discuss some of the existing research that focuses on the cosmetic; hair and clothing industry’s influence on women. Younger women use more cosmetics, are very aware of the cosmetic industry, and that emotions and low self-esteem can have an effect on the choices a woman makes regarding her appearance.
Women in today’s society are constantly being reminded of what is considered beautiful. There are thousands of advertisements that promote this elusive beautiful image to women of all ages, shapes and sizes. By glorifying celebrities and super models, society has built up impossible standards of beauty, which led to feelings of inadequacy among women. The YWMCA reported that $7 billion is spent each year on cosmetics (Beauty at Any Cost, 2008, p. 2). Among those big sellers were Cover Girl, Revlon and MAC. From a young age, girls are taught to experiment with makeup to increase their attractiveness. Different amounts can be applied as needed, and it works as a temporary boost in self-esteem. What is so appealing to most women about cosmetics is that it can be a quick an easy way to temporarily solve beauty problems.
One of the first studies that involved the effect of cosmetics on women was done by
Marsha L. Richins along with Peter H. Bloch, “You Look