We all know society has very set ideas of what it means to be beautiful – and it goes far beyond what we can control. Height, weight, hair, age, looks: all these things factor into how we perceive a person’s beauty. But most importantly, these outside factors affect how we judge people on the inside, too – and the effects go deeper than you might think. We’ve teamed up with Broadly to create a series of films that delve into how beauty standards and bias affect every aspect of our lives, from our careers to our social lives. Check out the films below and let us know: what does #BeautyBias mean to you?
Looks
They say don’t judge a book by its cover – but, it seems, that’s easier said than done. After centuries of dictated rules about how a woman should look, we can’t help but judge others based on appearances. In fact, it's often said that women who are considered to meet the set standards of beauty do better in job interviews. Broadly’s Kettie Jean hit the streets of London and Berlin to discover how your looks impact your lives.
Age
It’s a question as old as time: does age really matter? The answer seems to be yes – in fact, it’s been said that many women feel that their beauty declines after 35. That’s not even halfway through an average woman’s life. Broadly’s Kettie Jean talks to women aged from 20 to 65 to find out what growing older means to them. Are they worried about looking young forever? Are they wondering if their style has to change as they age? Or do they see aging as an additional boost to their confidence?
Height
Height always seems to be one of the things you can have too much or too little of. Too tall. Too short. We know beauty has no height limit – but that’s not what many of you have experienced. In fact, your height is apparently one of the strongest indicators of not just how beautiful and feminine you are, but how much respect you command. Broadly’s Kettie Jean took to the streets to discover just how much this #BeautyBias affects every aspect of our lives.
Hair
Classy, unprofessional, creative, unintelligent – there are so many ways to interpret a woman’s hair. For many of us, it’s the first thing we notice about a person – and without knowing it, the first thing we judge them on. But how does this affect us in real life? Does having blonde hair mean you make more money? Does big hair mean you’re more creative? Broadly’s Kettie Jean discovers how length, volume or texture of your locks can influence how people see and treat you.
Weight
Fashion – and society – have dictated the ideal shape and size of our bodies almost too far back to track, and almost every woman struggles with her weight at some point or another. It’s no wonder so many of us feel anxious about the way we look in a bikini – but it is surprising that attitudes to body shapes can go so much deeper than our beauty confidence. Kettie Jean talks to women about how they feel their weight impacts their lives, and how important they feel it is to the people around them.
