When women become obsessed with beauty

Why do women spend their time and resources just to look ‘beautiful’? The beauty craze amongst women has taken a different dimension just like men seem to be obsessed with what they see on the outside, without regards to what inside.

Today, many ladies hate the idea that they are growing old, they wouldn’t want to be referred to just being the normal girl around the block. They want to be termed as ‘hot’ even if it means trying the impossible to be termed as that. It is now common to hear words such as ‘Oh, no I don’t want to get old or I am hot.’ For such ladies, if you ask me, they will rather die than to be referred as ugly.

But what do men think of these women? Relying on research works and statistics hardly help matters. For instance, a 2011 study, paid for by Procter & Gamble, which sells makeup, said there is evidence that women feel more confident when wearing makeup. Meanwhile, a new research suggests men increasingly value intellect and character in a partner over a shapely figure.

Yakubu Husseini, a Kaduna-based business man, thinks women are not sincere even to themselves in their quest to look beautiful. “Look, we live in a time where a woman wearing artificial hair, nails, eye-lashes and so many other fake costumes; the same woman will tell you that she needs a real man as partner. How can you talk of a real man when everything about you is fake?”

Garba Hussaini, a banker, believes there is more to beauty than just looks. His point is that men love women for much more than beauty: “Yes, men love women. But we love women in all their complexity, for the things they do, their intelligence, their wit, their athleticism, their creativity, their power and most of all their personality. There is no point being beautiful and not having any personality or ethics. To me that is beauty wasted.”

Adam Haruna, a civil servant, believes it is the society in which we live in that has brainwashed women and men alike to be obsessed with good looks. “We have allowed the media to define what beauty is to us. The media presents a lady with layers upon layers of makeup heaped on her as being beautiful and crazily every woman wants to be like her and every man wants her type for keeps. No one looks beyond beauty anymore. We are all attracted to only the physical appearance which is everyday becoming more artificial. Do you know there are some jobs that you can’t get if you don’t look ‘smashing or hot’ as they term it?”

Emeka Oke Francis, an Abuja based Legal practitioner, says beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. “As a guy, the things I find attractive in a girl is sense of humor, a kind heart, and a generous nature. I won’t date just anyone with the perfect beauty because I know she would be obsessed with her beauty and I am not ready for that. Though I know there are many guys that would date such a lady. Hypothetically, if I ever asked you out, it would be because of your heart, not what the media define as beautiful. A kind heart is beautiful, like a flower. A girl plastered in makeup is just what it is: a girl plastered in makeup.”

Different stokes for different folks is the case for Bolaji Olanrewaju a doctor says “Common, you don’t expect someone of my caliber to present a not so hot lady as my woman or wife. I agree that there are so many fake beauties around but we should be able to tell the difference. I won’t lie to you I will go with a beautiful woman any day. I am on the average in terms of beauty so I will need a beautiful woman to raise the bar for me. You know what I mean.”

Uloma Obinna, a businesswoman, is of the opinion that not all that looks nice on someone will look nice on everyone. “It’s crazy. I see some women going all out to be termed as beautiful. Some look like clowns but still feel good about it even when people lie to them that they look hot. And when you brace up and tell them the truth they make you an enemy or say you are jealous. Really jealous of a clown! There are fashion trends but we should learn to see which fits our stature. Not everything that looks well on someone will look well on us.”

There are still people who believe in true beauty and what it means to be beautiful. Society is conforming to becoming copycats, rather than being themselves. Don’t ever think that you aren’t good enough because someone will always find the beauty in you one way or the other. As Socrates said, we are such a shallow society, rarely bothering to look beyond appearances. You will find that the less you fixate on yourself and look outwards, the happier you will be. Remember not all that glitters is gold.