In this time of quarantine, people are trying their hands at new things, like self-improvement. However, there is a toxic form of it called the “glow-up”. This path towards loving yourself could instead deteriorate you because of the harmful culture that surrounds it.
Attacking the Former Self
One of the harmful effects of the glow-up is how the old self is brutally attacked. Damage can be seen in before and after pictures. The former self is viewed in a degrading way and is used as a tool to amp up the new self. It looks miserable, undesirable, and ends up being tossed away and forgotten in the process. The after picture shows the person rightfully enjoying their success. But to viewers, this could be a punch to their self-esteem. The community would benefit if people share their stories. Although revisiting the past is difficult, narratives that speak of overcoming struggles is inspirational to those who are feeling alone and down on their journey.
Beauty Standards and Influencers
The glow-up normalizes harmful beauty standards for women and men. We are dealt with a set of unrealistic expectations from social media. Instagram and TikTok are at the forefront of enforcing these norms at the expense of young users. The majority of influencers possess hourglass bodies and six-pack abs in addition to eurocentric features, such as fair skin and double eyelids. People who lack these “ideal” features fall into a spiral of self-hate and attempt to alter their natural beauty.
Glow-up culture fails to acknowledge the privileges and differences between us and public figures. Their accessibility to resources is far from what we have. The majority of us are trying to deal with the obstacles that come with adolescence. Therapy, healthy foods, and gym access aren’t as accessible to us than it is to celebrities. For them, the best resources are a call or card swipe away.
The Reality
Glowing up isn’t sustainable. Countless glow-up videos decipit people getting temporary solutions to long term problems. As satisfying as new nails or dyed hair can be, they don’t tackle the root problem of self-esteem. The internal struggle will always be hidden until it resurfaces again. With society valuing physical appearances above mental health, it’s easy to see that outer changes aren’t the right answer. Glow-up culture hardly mentions mental health.
Better Alternatives
There are other types of glow-ups. Financial, educational, and mental health glow-ups are categories worth pursuing, as they provide lifelong lessons that will outlast appearance. When it comes down to it, these skills are advantages in adult life. Sure, your appearance could help you in the dating scene, but will it actually help you own a home or get you into your dream school? No it won’t. However, if changing yourself appearance brings confidence, more power to you. Make sure it isn’t driven by the need for validation.
A Potential Fix
Unfortunately social media is stuck in a state of valuing vanity over creation. While it’s true that it encourages creativity through tools, such as memes and music, our admiration towards unrealistic beauty standards is still prevalent.
Since we can’t go outside, it’s best if we go within ourselves. The best way to go about self-improvement is to cut your source of insecurity. Unfollow people who trigger negative comparison or better yet, step away from social media completely. Immerse yourself in your favorite activities, try affirmations and meditation. Healing sounds easier than it seems, but it’s a journey worth struggling for.
Attacking the Former Self
One of the harmful effects of the glow-up is how the old self is brutally attacked. Damage can be seen in before and after pictures. The former self is viewed in a degrading way and is used as a tool to amp up the new self. It looks miserable, undesirable, and ends up being tossed away and forgotten in the process. The after picture shows the person rightfully enjoying their success. But to viewers, this could be a punch to their self-esteem. The community would benefit if people share their stories. Although revisiting the past is difficult, narratives that speak of overcoming struggles is inspirational to those who are feeling alone and down on their journey.
Beauty Standards and Influencers
The glow-up normalizes harmful beauty standards for women and men. We are dealt with a set of unrealistic expectations from social media. Instagram and TikTok are at the forefront of enforcing these norms at the expense of young users. The majority of influencers possess hourglass bodies and six-pack abs in addition to eurocentric features, such as fair skin and double eyelids. People who lack these “ideal” features fall into a spiral of self-hate and attempt to alter their natural beauty.
Glow-up culture fails to acknowledge the privileges and differences between us and public figures. Their accessibility to resources is far from what we have. The majority of us are trying to deal with the obstacles that come with adolescence. Therapy, healthy foods, and gym access aren’t as accessible to us than it is to celebrities. For them, the best resources are a call or card swipe away.
The Reality
Glowing up isn’t sustainable. Countless glow-up videos decipit people getting temporary solutions to long term problems. As satisfying as new nails or dyed hair can be, they don’t tackle the root problem of self-esteem. The internal struggle will always be hidden until it resurfaces again. With society valuing physical appearances above mental health, it’s easy to see that outer changes aren’t the right answer. Glow-up culture hardly mentions mental health.
Better Alternatives
There are other types of glow-ups. Financial, educational, and mental health glow-ups are categories worth pursuing, as they provide lifelong lessons that will outlast appearance. When it comes down to it, these skills are advantages in adult life. Sure, your appearance could help you in the dating scene, but will it actually help you own a home or get you into your dream school? No it won’t. However, if changing yourself appearance brings confidence, more power to you. Make sure it isn’t driven by the need for validation.
A Potential Fix
Unfortunately social media is stuck in a state of valuing vanity over creation. While it’s true that it encourages creativity through tools, such as memes and music, our admiration towards unrealistic beauty standards is still prevalent.
Since we can’t go outside, it’s best if we go within ourselves. The best way to go about self-improvement is to cut your source of insecurity. Unfollow people who trigger negative comparison or better yet, step away from social media completely. Immerse yourself in your favorite activities, try affirmations and meditation. Healing sounds easier than it seems, but it’s a journey worth struggling for.