Can Beauty Be Constructed?

Lily Terhune

October 29, 2014

ENGL 1100, Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

Can Beauty be Constructed?

Actress, athlete, and fashion model Aimee Mullins said, “In our humanity, we need to celebrate those heartbreaking strengths and those glorious disabilities that we all have. It is our humanity, and all the potential within it, that makes us beautiful.” Aimee is saying that beauty is within all of our lives. Aimee Mullins is disabled with prosthetic legs and I agree with her opinion that beauty can be constructed. 

Although constructed beauty is not honest, it is still beauty. With today’s advancements in technology we are able to make beauty from man-made products. Examples of these products are Botox, breast implants, and buttock implants. These procedures are a more serious and permanent way to change our bodies. We also have makeup, hair tools, and other things that can transform a person’s appearance. These cosmetics are usually part of a woman’s routine to get ready in the morning. We have become accustomed to apply makeup and do our hair almost everyday. We give into the social pressures to look a certain way. But looking this certain way gives us a sense of confidence. Lastly, we have photoshop, special lighting, and filtered lighting. All of these things alter our view of true beauty and change our perception.

I believe that it is not fair to say that beauty can not be constructed. If you think of people like Aimee Mullins you cannot say beauty can not be constructed. She had prosthetic legs made to help her walk and look beautiful which gives her confidence. She has over a dozen pair of legs, all made very intricately and beautifully.  Her beauty is confidence and her prosthetic legs contribute to her beauty. All women are beautiful whether we give into the societal pressures of cosmetics and procedures to alter our appearance. Natural beauty or constructed beauty is beauty no matter what.

Aimee Mullins believes that beauty can be constructed and I strongly agree with her opinion. She constructed  her beauty with her prosthetic legs. She is able to change her height which alters our perception of her. She changed the way we normally think of beauty. We are able to make beauty with many things although it may not be honest.