Letting go of Societal expectation of your body shape, size and color

Duration: 28 Days

Social location—race, culture, nationality, and community—shapes societal expectations of body shape, size, and color, profoundly influencing self-image and perceived beauty. For example, in 

India, fair skin and a lean body have long been regarded as the ideal, driven by colonial legacy, media, and traditional norms. Curvier, darker-skinned individuals often face social pressure, exclusion, and even internalized shame, perpetuating the myth that beauty is narrow and exclusive.​

Here are examples of worldwide beauty standards and expectations from various countries:

South Korea: Clear, porcelain “glass” skin; V-shaped, small faces; double eyelids; youthful and natural aesthetics. Skincare and subtle cosmetic enhancements are central to beauty.​

Russia: Slim bodies with polished appearances, long hair, and strong femininity and poise. Emphasis on a tall, elegant look with well-defined features.​

USA: Diverse beauty ideals valuing individuality, self-expression, and confidence. Accepts a wide range of body types and natural skin tones, increasingly embracing body positivity and inclusivity.​

UAE: Beauty is often focused on elegant modesty, emphasizing expressive eyes enhanced with detailed makeup, fragrant presence, and overall grooming consistent with cultural and religious norms around modesty.​

China: Preference for fair skin, slim figures, delicate and symmetrical facial features, and youthful look. Beauty standards stress refinement and subtlety.​

Japan: Beauty emphasizes small faces, pale flawless skin, modesty, grace, and “kawaii” (cuteness) aesthetics. Soft, delicate features are favored.​

These standards reflect deep cultural, historical, and media influences, underscoring how beauty is socially constructed and varies widely. Diversity in beauty ideals challenges global norms to expand definitions of beauty to inclusivity and personal authenticity

A real-life scenario demonstrates how these standards can shift across cultures. 

A 30-year-old Indian brown, curvy woman is surprised upon arriving in New York, seeing plus-size models celebrated on runways—something not seen in her home country, where lean, fair-skinned women dominate fashion and media. Yet, her excitement is tempered by the realization that even in New York, colorism persists, and racialized beauty standards continue to marginalize those who don’t fit the dominant mold. 

This experience sparks reflection: Who really defines beauty? Why are cultural and media images so powerful in shaping self-worth? The truth is, everyone deserves to be celebrated in their uniqueness, and beauty is profoundly diverse.​

Self-Reflection Exercise

• Examine Social Location: How have family or friends defined beauty standards for you? What messages have you received about skin color, size, or shape?
• Identify Victimization: Recall times you felt judged, excluded, or pressured because of not fitting these standards. Who or what perpetuated these ideals?
• Set Boundaries and Reclaim Beauty: How can you establish boundaries to protect yourself from harmful beauty expectations? What makes you feel beautiful from within? What self-care or affirmation practices help you honor your uniqueness?
• Reclaim Beauty from Within: List qualities that make you feel radiant—kindness, strength, creativity, resilience. Celebrate them with gratitude and self-compassion.

By acknowledging the impact of social location and consciously reclaiming beauty on your own terms, anyone can step up, hold boundaries, and experience genuine self-love and acceptance.​