There was a news report today which said that a poll of 11-16-year-old girls showed that 50% of them would consider having cosmetic surgery to improve their looks. I do realise that ‘consider’ is not the same as actively wanting it, but it still indicates that a generation of children is growing up with the prospect of cosmetic surgery in their minds. It strikes me that there are three things wrong with this.
Firstly, I’ve already expressed concern at the addiction that has been generated to persuade people to be constantly wanting things. If cosmetic surgery is going to be added to the list of things to want, we have a problem. Addiction, by its very nature, is a process that requires constant renewal of the ‘fix.’ How far is that going to go if it’s applied to cosmetic surgery?
Secondly, what little I’ve seen of cosmetic surgery suggests to me that it leaves its own indelible signs, and those signs are usually ugly in themselves.
And lastly, it’s a sad comment on the state of modern culture that we should place such emphasis on outward appearance. ‘Beauty lives with kindness,’ said Shakespeare. Beauty lives with all sorts of things.
4 comments:
; A ; That's too young to be thinking about getting surgery...!
I remember when I was that young, I never even thought about my appearance; the only things I cared for were drawing and reading... perhaps it was the way I was raised.
Either way, and now, at this age, I still think that beauty comes from the inside; still, and no matter what, physical beauty does not last forever, so why bother and excruciate ourselves over something so banal? It's always better (yet harder) to be happy with just who we are (without being conformists, of course); at least that way, we will be happy with our own beauty at any given age.
~ Orphin's Domains ~
I think the telling point is when you say 'physical beauty does not last forever.' Good point.
And thank you for writing in English, BTW. We British are so lazy when it comes to learning other people's languages. I always feel grateful that somebody has taken the trouble to learn mine.
That's horrific, where's our culture at and what happened to wanting a box of 64 coloured pencils?!?!
I know it's a cliche but we should be teaching these kids that beauty is an inner reality that radiates.
Orphin's words are wise indeed!
Coloured pencils always left me cold. I always wanted a good fountain pen. But yes, the point is well made. It's bad enough that the grown ups are becoming consumed with superficial values, but when they get to the kids...
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