“Who Am I to Judge?” A Reflection on Beauty, Culture, and Compassion
-This blog is about a one page essay I recently did in my Anthropology class and I am featuring personal feedback from my Anthropology professor on how social structure and beauty intersect in my practice. Read to the end. I hope you enjoy.
What is a Social Organization?
Social organization refers to how a society or group structures itself, including roles, norms, relationships, power dynamics, and cultural practices that shape daily life. Learning about ethnographic fieldwork has shown me that it is more than just living amongst groups of people. It’s about observing deeply, reflecting on your approach, assumptions, and the words you use. Learning how to collaborate and respect cultural differences is important. I believe involving those you are studying is very important because many of us like to feel included.
As a licensed esthetician, observing my clients through conversation helps me understand what beauty standards mean to them and how they view skin care. As a professional, observing these standards helps me provide services rooted in compassion rather than judgment. The services I provide are bigger than just an individual monthly skin care routine; it’s shaping the economic structure around what beauty standards are.
At KTW Beauty Studios, I have professional power over my clients. Being aware of the power of relations ensures that I am upholding ethical, respectful interactions within my business and society. In my practice, I collaborate with my clients to develop treatment plans that challenge harmful beauty standards and “norms.” Collaborating with them has shown me that they feel empowered, seen, and heard when they become involved with the process in their skin journey.
In conclusion, ethnography is more than just about power dynamics and cultural practices that shape one's daily life. It has been shown that it teaches how social organization shapes how one views the world and their experiences. The way my clients view beauty standards, aging, and skin care is all influenced by ads, culture, and societal preferences. I can now approach my clients with more empathy and compassion because we are ALL shaped by something, so who am I to judge?
Professor Feedback:
-Zaquiathia, this is a well conceived, very personalized summary of a subject that obviously resonates deeply with you. Well done! I appreciate how you integrated your day-to-day activities within the larger universality of the topic. Your achieved status is an indicator of how you have come to terms with the inconsistencies of self-health and pushed that into an agenda of making smart choices for people and helping them make smart choices for themselves.
-Professor Galvin.
