Are women in our society ever “good enough” just as they are? Evidently not.
Breast implants, liposuction, tummy tucks, face lifts, butt enhancements, fillers, Botox, fat sucked out of one area and injected into another—the list truly goes on and on.
The necessity for women of all ages to be beautiful, as narrowly defined by our culture, has been relentless for years. But now we have seemingly hit a new low, with low being the operative word.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, during the last few years, demand for cosmetic labiaplasty, reconstruction of the female genitalia, has increased more than any other cosmetic surgery. In part, this is the result of altered grooming practices among women of all ages. In the past few decades, normal hair growth below the waistline has somehow turned into public enemy number one; therefore much attention has been given to shaving, trimming and waxing.
Women (and, possibly more relevantly, their partners) now see an area of their body that had previously remained concealed; alas, a whole new area to focus on and find fault with.
The female body is created the way it is for a reason. What is it about our culture that we just can’t leave it alone? Obviously, the lower half of a mature woman is not supposed to look like that of a prepubescent child. Unless of course, you live in a culture which idealizes pre-pubescent and ultra-thin as the sexual ideal.
Women, primarily in their 30s and 40s are requesting this reconstructive surgery, which costs on average between $3,000 and $6,000. Although some claim they want this surgery because they feel uncomfortable in tight clothing or embarrassed in swimsuits, I suspect many undergo this surgery to present a younger, more ideal “look” or feel to possible sex partners.
The fact that in certain markets this surgery is being promoted as “the Barbie,” only validates this suspicion. Indeed, there is a disturbing increase in teenage girls who are trying to get the procedure in order to achieve a prepubescent look. The results can be both disfiguring, and also potentially physically harmful.
While many plastic surgeons will provide the surgery on demand, others label the procedure as “a form of genital mutilation,” or “just another form of further exploiting the social vulnerability of women.”
At some point, every woman needs to discover that she really is good enough just as she is; her body is uniquely and divinely crafted to be exquisite and beautiful, AND quite capable of taking care of itself if everyone would just get out of the way!
