Acta Iadertina, Vol. 22 No. 1, 2025.
Prethodno priopćenje
https://doi.org/10.15291/ai.4852
Beauty as a Social Construct – between Personal Choice and Media Norms
Sofija VRCELJ
orcid.org/0000-0001-9531-3293
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
*
Siniša KUŠIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-9395-4588
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
*
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
This paper presents the results of a qualitative study investigating how
people of different genders and ages perceive the phenomenon of beauty.
The study was conducted on a sample of eight participants. The
data was collected in semi-structured interviews and analysed using
thematic analysis. The results point to three core dimensions of the
participants’ subjective constructions of beauty: inner beauty, physical
beauty and beauty as an expression of health. Although the participants
recognised the complexity of the concept of beauty, they often
pointed out that in social discourse it is reduced to physical appearance,
which is mostly associated with youth. This association implies a
perception of age and beauty as mutually exclusive categories. While
participants described the acceptance of beauty norms imposed by the
media as a matter of personal choice, they also recognised that such
norms contribute to the creation of stereotypes and discriminatory social
practices. Despite its continued relevance on both personal and societal
level, the pursuit of a normalised appearance is interpreted as a
socially conditioned, almost automatic behaviour. The results confirm
that beauty is primarily a social construct that is a subject to changing
interpretations and norms. In conclusion, the study emphasises the
need for a critical approach to media content, particularly by means of
teaching media literacy in formal educational contexts.
Ključne riječi
dimensions of beauty, media literacy, beauty norms, media
Hrčak ID:
334843
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.9.2025.
Posjeta: 892 *