If we accept what mass media tells us then the measure of beauty in women is directly related to the sexual arousal they instill in men. The formal definitions of these terms would indicate otherwise.
Dictionary.com lists the following definition for beauty:
the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).In contrast, this is the definition of sex appeal:
the ability to excite people sexually.My own interpretation is that beauty is what a person is naturally. Sex appeal is determined by how someone dresses or acts.
Back to my original issue about the comment from my friend, I think the issues of beauty and sex appeal should be considered separately. My friend does not deliberately dress to arouse men and if that is the goal, then the model wins. But she wins by default because my friend does not compete.
I am sure some who read this will think the model will win on beauty. What are we comparing? Consider the whole scene. Most will have an image of a model similar to what you might find in a photo shoot, on a magazine cover or perhaps on television. Compare this to my friend at work. That does not work for me. There needs to be balance. It can go either direction. Either picture the model on her day off when she has to do everything for herself with ordinary products or my friend with a professional to handle hair and makeup. And don't forget the unlimited budget for her wardrobe either.
In addition to physical aspects, personality does influence my perception of beauty. The beauty in the people I know is more meaningful to me than all that I see through the media.
