A philosophical reflection on women’s health

In today’s world, health is no longer seen as just the absence of disease, it has become an image to maintain, a goal to be displayed. For women, this image often takes the shape of beauty. Smooth skin, perfect body proportions, shiny hair—these are treated as symbols of health and success. Yet behind these ideals lies a deep philosophical question: Has beauty become a burden on women’s well-being?

The Illusion of the Ideal

From fashion magazines to social media filters, society constantly projects one message: you are not enough until you look perfect. This silent conditioning begins early in life. Girls grow up learning that their worth is tied to appearance, not ability. The “ideal woman” becomes a project not a person.

In our daily lives, there are so many instances when a woman’s beauty is considered more important than her other qualities. Receptionists throughout the world are expected to meet standards of beauty that reach far beyond what should be expected for the job. High school men rank girls on a scale to determine the “prettiest” one. People pass comments on others’ looks without considering the insecurities those people may already be harboring. We’re bombarded with photos of women digitally altered to unrealistic levels of beauty.

When you search online for images of the term “beauty,” the top results are women wearing heavy amounts of makeup — a shocking revelation since not a single picture of a joyful, natural-looking woman, or even a man for that matter, is used to represent beauty in our society. Why is the burden of beauty placed solely upon women, and why are our standards of beauty so flawed throughout the world?

This obsession with external perfection comes with consequences. Many women today experience body dissatisfaction, stress, eating disorders, and anxiety over appearance. In the race to meet impossible beauty standards, true health—both mental and physical—is often neglected. The philosophical concern here is that beauty has been medicalized; it is treated as a form of wellness that demands correction, rather than celebration of natural diversity.

The Body as a Battlefield

Feminist philosophers like Susan Bordo have long argued that the female body is not simply biological—it is social and political. Society uses the female body as a space of control, setting standards and judging those who fail to meet them. De Beauvoir’s concept of “the Other” explains how women are often seen through the eyes of men or society, rather than as self-defining individuals.

From Plato’s idea of beauty as a truth and harmony to modern Feminist thinkers who view beauty as a social construct used to control women.

This creates a philosophical tension: the body becomes a battlefield between autonomy and conformity. Women are told they are free, yet invisible pressures—advertisements, peer expectations, digital comparisons—dictate how they should look and behave. The health industry profits from this insecurity, turning natural bodies into objects of endless modification.

Health Beyond Appearance

The modern definition of health should be revisited. Health is not a mirror reflection; it is a holistic balance between mind, body, and spirit. When beauty becomes a duty, health becomes performance. Diets, fitness routines, and skincare regimens often shift from self-care to self-punishment. What starts as a desire to feel good transforms into a fear of imperfection.

Philosophically, this points to a deeper moral issue: Is self-care still care when it is driven by social judgment?

True care, as ethics suggests, is rooted in compassion—not comparison. Health that stems from self-love nurtures strength and peace, while health pursued for approval breeds anxiety and dissatisfaction.

Breaking the Cycle

Reclaiming women’s health requires breaking this cycle of imposed perfection. Education systems, media, and families must promote body positivity and critical awareness. Health should be presented as a personal, evolving journey, not a contest.

Young girls should be taught that physical diversity is normal, and that self-worth is not measured in inches or shades. Women should have the freedom to define beauty for themselves—to choose comfort over conformity.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “It is health that is real wealth.” In a deeper sense, this wealth lies in acceptance of one’s natural self—free from artificial ideals.

Towards Philosophical Freedom

Philosophy reminds us that the human body is not merely an object to be looked at—it is a vessel of consciousness, creativity, and resilience. When women reclaim ownership of their bodies, they reclaim control over their narratives. The moral task of our time is to move from beauty as control to beauty as expression, from appearance as identity to health as harmony.

Society must evolve from asking “How do you look?” to “How do you feel?” Only then can women’s health truly flourish—not as perfection, but as peace.

Sajad Ahmad Lone, a post graduate in Zoology, is a JKAS Officer