Perceptions of beauty(beautiful but strange)

This post is not meant to judge or discriminate against anyone. It is simply for knowledge and enlightenment purposes.

Source: PublicDomainPhotography

I remember watching the Oprah Winfrey show some years back; the topic being discussed that day was on people's perception of beauty all over the world. A couple of individuals from different races and cultures, were called in to describe what beauty meant in their cultures. It was truly a very interesting show and it just confirms the fact that beauty is a diverse concept, and people all over the world define beauty differently.

So I did a little digging on my own, and picked out some cultures from the hundreds of thousands around the world to know what they perceive as beautiful, in accordance with their tradition and perception of life. Although some of these traditions are phasing out as a result of globalisation, some of these traditions are still been practised-most especially in rural areas.

So the first country on my list is Mauritania! We will be looking at more countries, as the series goes on.

Mauritania is an Arab Maghreb country in west Africa. In Mauritania, women are considered beautiful if they are moderately to morbidly obese. An ancient culture called "gavage" has been passed down from generation to generation with the sole objective of fattening up their young daughters, so that they are more presentable when it's time to form alliances through marriages. A fat daughter is an indication that the father is committed to a marriage alliance, while a fat wife brings respect and good fortune to her husband.

source: Maxos_Dim, Pixabay
Traditions like this have serious health consequences, and is being discouraged by their government and non-governmental organizations alike, who are advocating for women rights and healthier eating habits. But a single policy cannot immediately wipe out the psychological effects of certain cultures that have been in existence for generations.

source: Wikimedia Commons

A typical man from Mauritania loves his woman endowed with a healthy amount of flesh. The women are also not left out. For them, being healthy and fleshy is something that is highly appreciated in their society. Now this is a country that definitely appreciates the big, bold, curvy and beautiful woman!

The next culture we would be looking at in the series can be traced to East Africa-Kenya to be precise.

Be on the lookout for that blog entry. :)

I truly hope you enjoyed readingg this. Have a brilliant day or night.

xoxo.