The Ugly Myth

Women are slotted into two categories: beautiful or ugly. Who defines beauty and who does this binary actually serve?

- Vineetha Mokkil

IMAGINE two islands. Imagine the ocean stretched wide between them. Women get to inhabit either of the two islands: 'Beautiful' or 'Ugly. Residents of the latter must spend their whole lives trying to make it to the former. Keep trying, or fall from grace. No in-between in sight. This is not speculative fiction. Women of all ages live under the cloud of this constructed binary in real life. Those who don't fit into the 'beautiful' slot are bombarded with remindersand threats of varying degrees-from cosmetic companies, the beauty industry, wellness clinics; film, television and social media; family, neighbours, perfect strangers you bump into on your commute to college or work. Everyone has tips to offer to ferry you to destination 'beautiful'.