Pecola Beauty Standards

Beauty Standards at the Age of Innocence Beauty standards set by society for black women fuels into their insecurities and drives them towards self-hatred. From the start, Pecola’s community, classmates, teachers and parent’s drill into her head that she is unattractive. Pecola Breedlove comes to admit she is ugly as she starts obsessing over the idea of having the bluest eyes to make her attractive. Pecola full-heartedly believes that blue eyes are a necessity for beauty and if she were to by some means acquire them, all of her problems in life would disappear. “Why, look at pretty-eyed Pecola. We mustn't do bad things in front of those pretty eyes” (46). Pecola assumes blue eyes are the key to gaining admiration from her community and love from her family. While Pecola Breedlove is constantly reminded of everything she is: ugly, poor, and black; her innocence is also stolen from her as she is figuratively raped by society and literally raped by her father.
Foremost, Pecola Breedlove does not have a relationship with her parents Cholly and Pauline, let alone
Overtime, people start to believe something about them is true if they hear it enough times; the idea becomes instilled in them. Pecola Breedlove heard from any and every one that she was unattractive. The constant criticism Pecola faced made her truly believe that if she were to change her appearance, people would adore her. Pecola lost self-respect when she started believing the criticisms she heard. She came to a point in her life where she no longer had the means to accept who and what she was—instead, Pecola lost her sanity and believed she at last had the bluest eyes she always yearned for, while speaking to her imaginary friend. Perhaps if Pecola Breedlove had a family like the MacTeer’s or a supportive community, she would not have gone