Beauty is often described as the pleasant visual feature of things which makes these objects enjoyable to see. These things include sunsets, landscapes, beautiful humans and artistic works of art. Beauty, along with art and taste, has been the basis of aesthetic, one of the most important branches of applied philosophy. It has been argued by many philosophers that beauty is subjective, and that there are no objective criteria for the evaluation of beauty. Others disagree. Still, others think that beauty is something we all share, regardless of culture, race or religion.
In India, the debate on beauty continues to rage between Indian and globalists about what is beauty. Indian citizens feel that beauty is not subjective because it is a part of culture and Indian beauty standards cannot be compared to the beauty standards of other cultures. The Indian beauty standards, according to these people, are more related to gender roles, occupation and family heritage. They are more related to what is expected in Indian society rather than what is actually expected in India.
A few decades ago, Indian women used to have a simple beauty routine: make-up, a skirt, a brown cotton saree, pearl necklace and a pair of designer sunglasses. Today, many Indian women spend hundreds of dollars on cosmetics, jewelries, bags, clothes, accessories, makeup kits, and beauty products. Women also spend thousands of dollars on accessories, clothes, cosmetics, and beauty supplies every month. A woman from a remote village in India cannot possibly own a Wal-mart or Nike running shoe, but she can probably afford a costly iPod, a comfortable flat-screen television, and a set of diamond earrings or a trendy pair of jeans.
Women from the Middle East and North Africa differ greatly in their beauty expectations. These women live in a different world that consists of very different standards of beauty. In these regions, beauty products such as cosmetics and hair oils can be very expensive. Only women with voluptuous figures and perfect skin are considered beautiful. Arab women in the Middle East and North Africa who live in a culture that values beauty have completely different beauty standards than those of their western counterparts.
Beauty standards are not solely based on physical appearance. A thin, dark-skinned woman with large breasts may consider herself beautiful because of her body structure and not her beauty standards. Similarly, a fat, fair-skinned woman may consider herself beautiful because of her beautiful skin and nice hair. The beauty standard for Middle Eastern and North African women varies drastically depending on culture and religion, as well as economic status and social class. While some Middle Eastern and North African cultures emphasize beauty in its most basic form, others place great importance on physical appearance.
In the West, beauty standards are based on how you look. Western beauty standards include thin, fair skin; long and thin hair lengths; a small waistline; a shapely body with flat abs; big, full breasts; and smooth and silky skin. Indian beauty standards are quite different, but they generally include: vibrant colors on the skin; straight and thick hair; skin that is soft and radiant; lustrous, glowing skin; strong, sinewy muscles; and curvy and toned body frame. This is why, when it comes to beauty, Indians have always been known to be the most beautiful.