Evaluate Beauty: Appearance Or Inner Self

What is beauty? There are two ways you can judge beauty, by appearance (external) and inner (internal) qualities. The noticeable beauty is what is visible on the surface; it does not have as much value as the beauty that is unseen which comes from within and glows outward. Therefore, judging people by looking at their appearance is irrelevant because beauty is more than what we look like. Our experiences in life, our self-confidence and our character traits define who we really are as individuals and not our outer appearance.

A person's cultural contribution can be part of the aspect of their personality. People have different cultural backgrounds and lifestyles. The way they act, speak, and think may indicate what culture they belong to. Different cultures have different standards of beauty, as well as people within the same culture. If we all had the same type of culture, cultural diversity would become nonexistent, and the world would be a very boring place. Therefore, people should be determined based on what they contribute to their culture, not by their appearance. Naheed Mustafa, a Muslim woman, wears a hijab because in their culture, it gives back women's "ultimate control on their bodies." (104).

According to Mustafa:

Wearing the hijab has given me freedom from constant attention to my physical self. Because my appearance in not subjected to public scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of it, has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed. No one knows whether my hair looks as if I just stepped out of a salon, whether of not I can pinch an inch or even if I have unsightly stretch marks. And because no one knows, no one cares (105).

This quote expresses how the hijab is important and Mustafa's feelings when she wears it and why she wears it. Despite of this, she is still seen as strange women and even a possible terrorist because of what she wears. There is no reason for a person to judge a Muslim woman, who wears a hijab, because they have no knowledge of that person's culture, family, and personal background. She shouldn't be judged by others because she may be a teacher, a writer, a good friend, a good person, etc. How you present yourself in the way you dress, your experiences in life, the place you came from, and your unique personality are aspects on how a person perceives things. These aspects should be part of the evaluation of you as a person. Mustafa's essay is an overall expression of her personal interpretation of freedom, by wearing a hajib.

One of my friends from high school loves to wear seductive clothes because she feels comfortable, not because she wants to attract boys. As you may expect, she is judged by many people as a slut. I was frustrated because even though she shows people kindness, they still believe that she is a slut because of what she wears. People say that beauty is only skin-deep. Is it not the other way around? What counts is on the inside, not the outside, right? My friend should be seen differently based on the way she acts. People should consider the kindness she shows and not only be blinded by her physical appearance.

What has considered beautiful? Is it "ever-changing" as Mustafa stated? (105). Is it something pleasing to one's eye and something that gives pleasure or something that shows good personality and attitude? The best way to judge people's beauty is based on their internal beauty, strength of one's character and will, their ambition in life, their honesty, their truthfulness towards themselves and others, and their kindness. Therefore, when external beauty is supported with internal beauty, it makes a stronger statement. External beauty is not forever, but if combined with internal beauty, the impact will last forever. External beauty is meaningless without a person's internal beauty such as kindness, respect for others, and good character.

Furthermore, in our society, men and women see physical beauty as the most important feature because society puts huge significance on physical appearance. Our bodies