EPISODE‌ ‌65 Does Looking Good Mean Feeling Good? Purim and the Beauty Trap

“There is tremendous power in knowing your worth that no amount of cosmetics and no amount of beauty products and no amount of surgery can replace.”— Adrienne GoldWe are constantly told, and tell each other, that true beauty lies within. Yet, there are inarguable advantages to possessing external beauty. We see this not only in our modern world, but in ancient texts such as Megillat Esther, where the heroine’s attractiveness plays no small role in helping her not only survive, but thrive within the palace of her husband, King Achashverosh.The darker aspects of her story include sexual coercion and patriarchal exploitation, as the King’s harem of kidnapped virgins are valued for their looks and pressured to please him, visually and otherwise. While the pressures most modern women in the West face aren’t quite as dire, the pressure to be beautiful is a major source of stress — and can lead to serious mental health issues.This episode of Living Jewishly is an instalment of Crossing the Sea, a podcast about Judaism and mental health. In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet sits with Adrienne Gold with Momentum Canada and a former fashion and beauty television personality, to explore the link between physical attractiveness and self worth, the psychology behind the drive for beautification, and how we can extricate ourselves from the beauty trap for good.“It’s not only disingenuous to equate beauty with virtue, but it’s also so transitory because the standard just keeps shifting.”— Dr. Elliot MalametThis‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

• How Esther’s agency and internalization of her worth helped her to become a victor in her story
• The societal equation of physical beauty with inherent morality and virtue, and how language supports this association
• The mixed messaging we receive in society and the importance of finding balance between your inner Esther and Vashti

‌Highlights:‌ ‌00:50 Intro02:06 Adrienne Gold & internalization06:10 Shifting standards of beauty07:21 Esther’s agency & knowing your worth11:25 Modern beauty messaging14:06 Elliot’s cowboy clothing story15:37 Beautification aims18:44 Focus on your soul21:30 Mixed messaging in society25:28 Vashti & Esther28:23 Cancel culture30:19 Esther: victim or operator?35:45 Gender stereotypes & beautification38:38 Escaping the beauty trapLinks:‌ ‌Momentum Canadahttps://www.momentumcanada.caTo get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:Visit‌ ‌our ‌website: https://livingjewishly.orgFollow us on Instagram: @living.jewishlyWatch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2YEegjapKpQeXG6zh6tzwor send us an email at hello@livingjewishly.org.Shalom!