A Slice Of Beauty: Cosmetic Surgery In Millennials

Thesis: The millennial generation has increased the popularity in cosmetic surgery, weather it is to improve their self-esteem or just to simply fit in, in the workplace.

Body Paragraph: Millennials are getting cosmetic surgery to feel attractive and to boost their self-esteem. They opt for cosmetic surgery because it makes them feel better about themselves and feel more confident. We live in a culture where media plays a major role in influencing the actions that we take. Famous people like the Kardashians, Beyoncé, and other famous models have set the bar of beauty at a high level. Millennials want to look like these famous models because they believe that if they attain that level of beauty they will be happier. In the article “Cosmetic Surgery and the Cultural Construction of Beauty” by researchers Lorrie Blair Associate Professor Ph.D and author Maya Shalmon argue that media has largely influenced cosmetic surgery. They address how TV shows and movies portray the idea that only beautiful people achieved happiness. For example they use the movie Disney’s Little Mermaid (2000), which is about a beautiful mermaid Ariel that falls in love with the handsome prince Eric, and of course like every fairy tale movie there is an evil character, which in this case is Ursula. Disney portrays Ursula as a “large, oozing black squid, while the mermaid Ariel appears as to be modeled after a slightly anorexic Barbie doll. Although there are exceptions, generally in these stories only a beautiful princess and her prince live happily ever after” (15). Movies such as these send a message to younger teens that only beautiful people attain happiness. With that said Millennials find the need for cosmetic surgery to feel happiness. Woman that want to get cosmetic surgery often mention the famous icon Barbie, Mattel’s best-selling doll. For instance “Cindy Jackson, an American talk show celebrity, had more than 20 surgical procedures in an attempt to resemble Barbie” (16). These Barbie dolls and movie characters portray the image of perfection, and that is exactly what millennials want. They want to look flawless because it will make them feel happier. In an interview with a single 30 year old elementary school teacher Leticia Rojas from Houston TX, says that undergoing cosmetic surgery for a smaller nose, is something she plans on doing in the near future. When asked why she wanted to get a nose job, she said “because it will make me feel more confident and it will improve my self-esteem…overall I just want to be happy”. When asked about what she thinks about cosmetic surgery in our millennial generation she says “It is becoming popular among young adults, and media promotes and influences women into getting cosmetic surgery. Women want to look like Kim Kardashian, she is the definition of beauty. Not only that but surgery has become easier to access, you can pay the surgery in payments”. Leticia Rojas is currently looking for surgeons in her area to begin the process of undergoing a nose job.