The Brow Debate:
Best Brow Beauty?
As seen in the Design Through Time tab, there have been many popular icons that have tried to make statements with their brows. Beginning with the Ancient Egyptians, eyebrows have become a style, a fashion, a trend, a statement. The debate that presents itself currently goes hand in hand with how eyebrows have been economic and societal signifiers. As of late, it appears that eyebrows have been an evermore personal trend.
Ultimately, why do we care? Why make these changes to our faces anyways? Eyebrow design is an elective process, and because of that - the analysis of why eyebrows are changed the way they are poses an interesting question about societies values today.
Ultimately, why do we care? Why make these changes to our faces anyways? Eyebrow design is an elective process, and because of that - the analysis of why eyebrows are changed the way they are poses an interesting question about societies values today.
The Low Down: Change over time
A new study in the Clinical Plastic Surgery journal predicts that soon, the arched brow will be obsolete.
The study shows that the "ideal" eyebrow has been moving LOWER for the past 60 years! So what is the result of this shift? Think about it - women are looking more and more masculine.
This poses an interesting evaluation of the evolution of the design of eyebrows. What does it mean that women are looking more and more masculine? Well, as said before, eyebrow design is an elective process - so women must want this change and are continuing to reinforce it.
Our conclusion? Gender roles.
Again, eyebrow design is a reflection of the times, but in a slightly different way. As opposed to reflecting the current feelings and emotions of the general population when it comes to living conditions and societal hard times - here, eyebrow design is being used as a tool to impact the status of societal gender roles.
"Upward curvature of the eyebrows was considered to be an attractive feminine feature in the past. We are finding that more and more women are looking for a flatter, straighter, more masculine look. I think it has to do with the increasing equality of the sexes. Women are subconsciously favoring a masculine brow."
- Mark Soldin, spokesman for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
The study shows that the "ideal" eyebrow has been moving LOWER for the past 60 years! So what is the result of this shift? Think about it - women are looking more and more masculine.
This poses an interesting evaluation of the evolution of the design of eyebrows. What does it mean that women are looking more and more masculine? Well, as said before, eyebrow design is an elective process - so women must want this change and are continuing to reinforce it.
Our conclusion? Gender roles.
Again, eyebrow design is a reflection of the times, but in a slightly different way. As opposed to reflecting the current feelings and emotions of the general population when it comes to living conditions and societal hard times - here, eyebrow design is being used as a tool to impact the status of societal gender roles.
"Upward curvature of the eyebrows was considered to be an attractive feminine feature in the past. We are finding that more and more women are looking for a flatter, straighter, more masculine look. I think it has to do with the increasing equality of the sexes. Women are subconsciously favoring a masculine brow."
- Mark Soldin, spokesman for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Proper Brow Beautification
Brow upkeep has become a science. There is a "right" and "wrong" way to go about maintaining eyebrows according to the shape of your face.
While eyebrow design is an elective process, there are many factors that should contribute to the style of your brows - as seen below - like the shape of your face.
Eyebrow "correction" has become a science. The fact that there is a "right and a wrong way" to go about maintaining eyebrows - not only shows that society values the importance of the look of the eyebrow, but that society holds an element of judgement because there is a concrete set of rules to evaluate ones eyebrows. This enables the creation of an "ideal". Especially in todays society, with the widespread prevalence of media there has been a change in the ability to see what other people are doing and how other people are living. It is almost invasive, but we all know we are sucked in. Overall, everything is more personal now because it can be. Nothing is private and generally not much of anything is done for solely for ones satisfaction anymore. Although the eyebrow analogy is small, its' implications speak loudly about society.