How do we define beauty?

As cliché as this question is, it plays a major role as to how we fit into society. From what jobs we get, to our friends and relationships, how we look has a lot to do with how we are treated. According to research, taller, more attractive people tend to get better jobs, better-looking partners and higher salaries.

This has been true throughout history as well. Many famous kings' wives are described as "beautiful" (even if they aren't but this makes the story more appealing) as well as queens themselves. You can see similar themes in Disney movies, on TV, in Hollywood, etc. Different people have different perceptions of what real beauty is and those perceptions change over time, but there are usually some main features that different societies agree fit the image of "true" beauty. For example, in East and South Asian countries such as China, Korea, Pakistan and India, the paler your skin the better. In these same countries, the bigger your eyes the better as well. In the majority of countries all over the world if you are overweight you are seen as less desirable and those who are overweight are oftentimes thrust as the "sidekick" or the "comic relief" in popular culture. In general, the "classic beauty" in most societies around the world is portrayed as having long hair with a few exceptions (ie Princess Diana). In practically every classic Disney movie ever, the leading female character is a princess. And as a classic princess she must have flowing, long hair (past her butt) again with exceptions (Mulan cuts off her beautiful princess hair and pretends to be a boy to join the army).

Most of the women around the world, if they chose, could conform to this typical ideal of beauty more or less. If you're in India, you may not be born pale, but you can buy those increasingly popular skin-lightening creams in the hopes that this will increase your chances of finding a mate (this actually happens). If you're a woman you can also keep your hair long as is the style and maintain beautiful princess-length hair. Almost anywhere around the world, if you wanted, you could try your best to emulate one of the Disney princesses. They have one for every continent right, so all you have to do is pick the one that looks closest to you... For Russia, there's Anastasia, China has Mulan, I believe Jungle Book was set in India, Esmerelda was a gypsy, but her skin was bronze and her hair was long and black so if that sounds like you... Cinderella, Belle, Snow White- various places in Europe, South America/Peru got Emperor's New Groove, even Native American girls can emulate Pocahantas; The Lion King was set in Africa so if you're of African descent you can aspire to be like... Nala? Wait. Of course you can't because there's no Black Disney princess, prince, or main character for that matter (And don't you dare tell me that in Shrek, the Donkey's voice was Eddie Murphy... That wasn't even Disney it was Pixar).

And wait, if you're of African descent you can't grow long, flowy princess hair because your hair doesn't grow like that (more exceptions of course depending on your grade of hair and what you do to it)!? So what do you do if the society you live in has set a standard of beauty that looks nothing like you or any of your family, or your anyone in your ethnic group for that matter. What do you do when the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions your land of ancestry is a bunch of lions running around on Pride Rock and The Jungle Book? What else?

You must alter your appearance as best you can to fit what society thinks is beautiful. After all, you are living in that society. Commence the frying of black hair from chemical relaxers, processing "kits", weaves, hot curlers, etc.