Instead of merely looking at modern beauty standards and seeing them as unachievable, Beauty Redefined outlines the changing standards of beauty throughout the ages. It really helped put the subject into perspective. While we all know that what is considered beautiful has never been static, having a book outline the changing standards in such a simple and engaging way was incredibly refreshing. Shenoy even gives a very personal account of her own struggles with body image which was relatable in a way that other books of this genre often are not.
Change is possible. I believe that we are on the brink of a major reformation when it comes to repositioning women's place in society.
What Beauty Redefined is, more than anything, is a journey. It introduces us to the problems of modern beauty standards, takes us through time to show how those standards have changed in every era, shows how society, not just individual women, can make changes in how beauty standards are put forward, and gives steps for each individual, and society as a whole, to create a positive change.
There should be an equal representation of women of all races, color, ethnicities and body types in the media. Taking this measure will promote diversity and express an overall acceptance of the varied kinds of physical beauty that exist.
My only criticism of Beauty Redefined would be the more ‘hands on’ aspects. There was a beauty archetype quiz which I felt was too general to be more than a distraction (I could literally pick every answer as something that defined me on any given day, depending on mood), and the section titled ’10 Characteristics That Define a True Beauty.’ It put me in mind of Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth Bennet tells Darcy that she is “no longer surprised at [him] knowing only six accomplished women.” That isn’t to say the list wasn’t useful, only that it would require quite a degree of financial and social privilege to achieve every characteristic that is laid out. I chose to view it as more of an aspiration rather than a set of ground rules. This helped me get my head around it and is something I hope might help other readers whose personal circumstances may make those characteristics seem unachievable.
All in all, Beauty Redefined, was more than just a beauty book. It was part history, part self-help, part social manifesto. I enjoyed it a lot, and I think it’s something that a lot of women who struggle with self-esteem issues could get a lot out of.