Opinion

Susan Boyle effect: Change cultural bias on appearances Let’s make over cultural bias on appearances

Susan Boyle, shown outside her home in Blackburn, Scotland. Susan Boyle, shown outside her home in Blackburn, Scotland. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Susan Boyle effect: Change cultural bias on appearances 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

By now you have probably heard of the Scottish woman, Susan Boyle, who became an overnight international media sensation (millions of YouTube hits and counting) after her appearance on a British television show calledBritain’s Got Talent, anAmerican Idol-like show. This stocky, cheeky 47-year old woman, who describes herself as unemployed, living alone with her cat, never been kissed, and singing in her church choir, was subject to the audience and judges’ initial derision and ridicule when she stated that she wanted to be a famous singer. Preparing to be amused, the audience and judges instead rose to their feet to cheer when she started to sing, revealing a powerful and beautiful voice.

Since then the narrative is unfolding along predictable paths, with “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “rooting for the underdog” being primary motifs. However, Boyle is a stand-in for millions of women, especially older women, who are marginalized, ignored, and even ridiculed in cultures that idolize youth and beauty. In fact, radical feminist Mary Daly, tongue firmly in cheek, encouraged older women to start robbing banks since they are so invisible in this culture that they would not be noticed or caught.

In her review of the literature, Samantha Kwan, a University of Houston professor of sociology, found that physical attractiveness is associated with many positive outcomes including employment advantages in hiring, wages and promotion and increased work satisfaction, positive perceptions by others and higher self-esteem. Additionally, research reveals that physical attractiveness can lead to better treatment in the health care, education and criminal justice systems. In contrast, Kwan states that women deemed unattractive are subject to stigmatizing, stereotyping and discrimination.

With social and economic rewards to be gained, Kwan notes that it is not surprising that most women engage in some type of “beauty work practices” ranging from putting on make up, hair styling and body hair removal to dieting and undergoing cosmetic surgery. Since women are more judged and valued based on their appearance, they are more likely to engage in such work, although more men are joining in such practices, especially building muscularity. However, Kwan notes that the beauty standard is a double standard. While attractiveness is desirable for men; it is practically compulsory for women. The underlying premise is that women’s natural state is not beautiful and that women must work, spending inordinate amounts of time and money, to become beautiful. “Natural beauty” is merely a euphemism for having the beauty work appear effortless.

Although the world is abuzz about the wonder that is Boyle, there is already talk of her “mini” beauty makeover. Some Web sites have posted more extensive virtual makeovers for her. However, making all women fit a narrow stereotype of beauty is boring as well as homogenizing. Additionally, beauty work is often a no-win situation for women. As Kwan cites, if women resist beauty standards they are powerless and condemned as ugly, and if they conform they are powerless in a world that defines female value and worth solely by appearance.

Boyle’s entrance on the world stage provides a teachable moment. At her audition, Boyle promised to “make that audience rock.” It would be an added benefit and unexpected consequence if she also rocked unrealistic and often unattainable beauty standards for women.

Our society can resolve not to judge others on the basis of appearance and learn to celebrate women who resist, rather than conform to, the beauty ideal. It can cause us to look beyond a woman’s appearance and look instead to her character, her intellect, her talent and her heart. Rather than Boyle undergoing a makeover, let’s make over our appearance-obsessed culture. A proverb holds that beauty is skin deep. It’s time to turn our rhetoric into reality.

McPhail is a Houston writer.