What are the beauty expectations in your generation?

There weren’t that many and I was a country girl so probably even less for me.  When I started high school I began wearing mascara and foundation and blush but I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to trends and fashions in the beauty world.  My family was pretty ambivalent about it.  

Did you ever compare yourself to others?

 Oh, definitely! There were always the women that we wanted to 'look like' or 'act like' or be as 'popular as'! Whether that be a women I saw on TV or a magazine. I don't think women will ever stop comparing themselves to others or the ideal women

What was the typical fashion at the age of 20 in your generation/did you care about it?

Pant legs were wider and clothes were somewhat tighter, higher waists, spike heels seemed to be the trend.  Big hair was in style.

In your generation, did media have a large influence on beauty standards?

Again, I was a country girl and did not watch a lot of TV, nor access to a lot of social media.  While some of my friends who lived in town were more apt to pay attention to social influences I really didn’t follow very much of it.

Did anything effect the way you looked at beauty? (ex. Ad’s, television)

I was influenced more so by popular friends at school than anything else.

Was body modification normal? (tattoos, plastic surgery)

Rarely was there any sort of body modification done amongst my peers other than ear piercing.  

Was there any expectation about body image when you were younger?

Definitely, there were expectations to be pretty and have a nice figure.  I don’t suppose that has changed a lot over time.

Were women suppose to look a certain way?

Women were expected to look ‘good’ and the better you looked, the more popular most women were.

Was there anything you weren’t allowed to wear?

In school, no short shorts, no spaghetti straps (straps had to be two finger width), no logos or words on shirts other than brand names, no hats allowed in school and no low-cut tops for the girls.

How did you feel about your image?

For the most part I felt okay about my image.  I had very good grades while in school and tended to hang out with the ‘smart but nerdy’ kids. I had a lot of fun with my friends!

What do you think the beauty expectations are in today's society/how have they affected you?

In my opinion the beauty expectations in today's society are very high. With how accessible media and social media is we are subjected to beauty standards everyday whether that be magazines, Instagram, Facebook etc. We are constantly surrounded by “beautiful” people and standard of beauty that is projected through the media is continuously set higher. 

Do you wear makeup/why did you start?

Yes, I do wear makeup. I tend to only wear it when I am going out for a special occasion or a night out with friends. I started wearing makeup to feel more confident about myself and in my opinion it truly does make me feel more confident.

Does the media effect the way you perceive yourself?

Yes it does. The media portrays thin people as beautiful. For myself, I don’t feel as beautiful because I don’t fit into what the media portrays as being beautiful.

What do you think of society’s ‘ideal image’?

I believe society’s ideal image is developed through what the media portrays as the ideal image. Society’s ideal image is constantly changing. For example, this year larger butts and curvier bodies are ‘in’. Years ago people with those body types were seen has fat or overweight but because the media is portraying women with these body types as beautiful now society has accepted this as the ideal image.

Do you believe in body modification?

I don’t necessarily believe in it but I do not have an issue with it. If a woman or man feels they need to alter something on their body it is there decision. If it makes them love themselves more I am certainly not against that. I believe it is a personal decision.

What do you think about yourself/your image?

I don’t really have an image per say. I feel most beautiful and confident when I am wearing makeup. I tend to wear what is more comfortable than fashionable.

What effect has the cosmetic industry had on you?

I truly think the cosmetic industry is a great thing. It allows many women and girls to feel more confident with themselves than they normally would. Is this a good thing that people need makeup to feel confident? Probably not. But in this era media is unavoidable and our perception of ourselves is influenced by the media a great deal. If makeup allows someone to feel more confident and happier with themselves than I am all for it. For me personally, it has allowed me to feel more comfortable in my own skin at times when I don’t feel beautiful.

Do you compare yourself to others on social media like Instagram or Facebook?

Yes, with social media being so accessible it is hard to not compare yourselves to others.

How do you feel about selfies or getting likes on Instagram?

When posting a selfie whether that be myself or another person it shows that person is comfortable with themselves and feeling beautiful in that moment. I think selfies are a great thing! Getting likes on Instagram can be a good and bad thing. Having people like your photo gives a sense of satisfaction but when no one likes your photo or very few people like it, it can cause a sense of dissatisfaction with yourself.

Do you want beauty standards to change or stay the same?

In a perfect world I wish everyone could be considered ‘beautiful’ but beauty standards are constantly changing and they always will. 

I wear makeup to feel more confident in myself. Truthfully, I don’t like going anywhere without something on my skin because that’s what I’m use to. I wear makeup for myself but then I also think that I wear it because that’s what’s normal and everyone else does. The ideal women wears makeup so I feel the need to. 

Question 2:
 Do today's beauty ideals influence you?

Yes, today’s beauty ideals influence me. The ideal image is seen everywhere; TV, AD’s, Magazines. Its hard not to fall into what society portrays as perfect. I try my best to be my own person but I do wish I looked like the women who are seen as perfect. 

Question 3:
 Do you compare yourself to people on social media?

I do compare myself to others on social media. I try to remember that what I see isn’t always what’s real. People put only the best on social media, not what’s reality. 

Question 4:
 Is your ideal image the same as society’s ideal image?

Yes, my image is the same. The ideal women would be tall, blonde, skinny. I think if society hadn’t put into my head what the ideal women should look like my perspective would be different. This goes to show you how easy it is for society and standards to influence you.

Question 5:

What do you think of the selfie?

I think it is good to post pictures of yourself on social media because it can give you a boost of confidence. It shows that women are comfortable in who they are and how they look. The one bad side to social media is comments and what people say about one another. Posting a picture and getting a mean comment can bring down your self confidence. 

Question 6:
Do you think body modification is a good thing?

I think it is good and bad. If you want to get something done to your body that will help boost your confidence then I think people should do it. I don't think people should get anything done to their body if they aren't doing it for themselves or because they are trying to look like someone else. 

Question 7:
What decade would you like to live in based on beauty standards?

To be honest, any decade besides the 20th century. I would love to know how it feels to not be so influences by social media. 

Question 8:
How do you see yourself?

For me I'm constantly trying to perfect my body. Its hard for me to be happy with my body when I constantly see women that are slim with perfect figures. I work hard for the body i have now by going to the gym a lot, but I'm always striving for more. When it comes to facial beauty i am happy with what God gave me. I like being different than everyone else.