The Routledge Companion to Beauty Politics

The power of beauty ideals in everyday life has grown due to the service economy,cosmetic technologies,global media,and internet scrutiny. The Routledge Companion to Beauty Politics is an essential reference work for students and researchers interested in the politics of appearance, covering topics such as theorizing beauty politics, competing definitions of beauty, beauty activism, and social change, body work, beauty and labor, and beauty and the lifecourse.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 388 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The growth of the service economy, widespread acceptance of cosmetic technologies, expansion of global media, and the intensification of scrutiny of appearance brought about by the internet have heightened the power of beauty ideals in everyday life. A range of interdisciplinary contributions by an international roster of established and emerging scholars will introduce students to the emergence of debates about beauty, including work in history, sociology, communications, anthropology, gender studies, disability studies, ethnic studies, cultural studies, philosophy, and psychology.

The Routledge Companion to Beauty Politics is an essential reference work for students and researchers interested in the politics of appearance. Comprising over 30 chapters by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into six parts:

Theorizing Beauty Politics: This section explores the theoretical frameworks and concepts that shape our understanding of beauty and its political implications. It examines the historical, cultural, and social factors that have contributed to the construction of beauty standards and the ways in which these standards have been contested and challenged.

Competing Definitions of Beauty: This section examines the diverse ways in which beauty is defined and understood across different cultures, societies, and time periods. It explores the ways in which beauty is shaped by cultural norms, social structures, and individual experiences and the ways in which these definitions have been used to justify discrimination and oppression.

Beauty, Activism, and Social Change: This section explores the ways in which beauty has been used as a tool for activism and social change. It examines the role of beauty pageants, fashion shows, and other forms of visual representation in promoting social justice and equality and the ways in which these forms of representation have been critiqued and challenged.

Body Work: This section examines the ways in which beauty practices and interventions are used to modify and enhance the body. It explores the historical and cultural contexts in which body work has been practiced, the ethical considerations involved in these practices, and the ways in which they have been used to promote or perpetuate harmful stereotypes and norms.

Beauty and Labor: This section explores the ways in which beauty is intertwined with labor and the workplace. It examines the ways in which beauty standards and expectations are imposed on workers in industries such as fashion, entertainment, and hospitality and the ways in which these standards have been used to justify low wages, poor working conditions, and discrimination.

Beauty and the Lifecourse: This section examines the ways in which beauty is experienced and interpreted throughout the life course. It explores the ways in which beauty ideals and practices are passed down from generation to generation, the ways in which they are influenced by social and cultural changes, and the ways in which individuals negotiate and challenge these ideals.

The Routledge Companion to Beauty Politics is essential reading for students in Women and Gender Studies, Sociology, Media Studies, Communications, Philosophy, and Psychology. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the politics of appearance and its impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Weight: 714g
Dimension: 174 x 247 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032043319