Beauty can be best defined as the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind. There is no conversation of black or white in that definition. In the past and still today, people have set the standard of beauty to simply white beauty. From the media telling white women how they look is beautiful, and that it's even "correct", clouds the images of black women when they look in the mirror (Tracy par 3). Seeking this approved beauty, black women will straighten their hair, apply light shading makeup, and even get surgeries to alter the shape and attributes of their face. The media has actually accomplished the feat of convincing people to what is beautiful and what is not. Granted many white women struggle to be beautiful and find their own beauty, they are constantly reassured by society and the media that their attributes are classic or the "ideal" (Tracy par 3).
The Bluest Eye shares this standard of beauty. The main character in the book, Pecola, believes she is an ugly black girl. She desperately yearns to fit the white standard of beauty that has been set by her society. The black female adults in the book have learned to hate the blackness of their bodies and essentially take it out on their children. It is portrayed that once a black girl reaches a certain age it is expected that she will learn to hate the color of her skin and embrace racial self loathing. Pecola relates beauty to being loved. She thinks if she can alter the way she looks to the way people want her to look, people will love and respect her. This is where the "Bluest Eye" gets its title. Pecola wishes she has blue eyes to make her beautiful so she will be loved and respected and escape her life of cruelty.
It is hard to escape from beauty no matter what culture you are. Though people strive for certain white attributes, whether you're white, black, yellow, red, or green, everywhere you go aspects of beauty will impact you. It is a fact that if you are not as pretty or good looking you will not be treated as nicely or with as much respect in the world; especially for women. Beauty culture is completely two faced. The media and society preaches this "natural beauty" while at the same time you will never see a model on a magazine cover without being botoxed, airbrushed, or showered with makeup. So why does the world struggle to see what is actually beautiful and what is not? The image of beauty has been labeled by a standard, thus causing so much confusion and struggle to the victims "seeking" to be beautiful.
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