Customer Reviews

Beyond Beauty: Girls Speak Out on Looks, Style and Stereotypes

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The Natalie Portman cover photo says it all! This book is a masterpiece! I could not put it down. An enthralling and personal look into the psyche of teenage girls everywhere. Ambitious, personal, and erotic. Highly Recommended!

Heylo
i just wanted to say that this book was really inspiring and helped me to understand different people (be more open). Anyway this book inspired me to write my own book about me and my friends, who knows it might get published someday. oh yah and just for the record i am 15 i'm just too lazy to sign up haha

Beyond Beauty delivers a conflicting message that is potentially quite destructive. While the author purports to offer an alternative perspective with regards to conceptions of beauty, in fact the book goes on to highlight very conventional and superficial aspects of physical attractiveness. If a book were to really explore aspects of personhood "beyond beauty", it might explore elements of achievement that have nothing to do with physical appearance. Instead, author Jane Pratt delves headlong into make-up tips and photographs of pretty faces, while giving lip service to the need for girls to move beyond obsession with physical attractiveness. This kind of double message is potentially destructive, since it promises an alternative to those who might be desperate for one, then proceeds to offer the status quo. A reader who actually hopes to find a message in this book with substance, a perspective that actually differs from that in Seventeen Magazine (or Sassy magazine, or Jane magazine) will be sorely dissappointed. Beyond Beauty, this book is titled? Where, then, are pictures of the teenagers with physical disabilities, who face challenges multiple times every day, and still prevail? Where are pictures of teens with intellectual limitations who continue to strive to do THEIR very best, regardless of where that perfomrance falls on the normal curve of achievement? Where are the stories of young women who have suffered accidents or disfigurement, yet have managed to come to terms with the fact they look different from most other people and have found meaning in areas of life that are "beyond beauty"? Sources that claim to offer a "different" or "alternative" perspective, then proceed to offer the standard fare, only serve to strengthen the status quo. The status quo with regards to teenage girls and the need to be beautiful is a cruel and unforgiving standard and one that should not be perpetuated. Unfortunately, that is what this book does. It is another version of the in-crowd's high school yearbook, disguised only in terms of its title.

A new magazine for women Jane has recently been published by the author of Beyond Beauty. The magazine is different than most other magazines for females. I am a teenager and just love the magazine and the book. Both offer unique role models plus some of the beauty/fashion all women crave. I am not ashamed to read the mag or this photo/essay book as I am Teen or YM, I am quite proud!

Natalie (whats her name) can be pretty when her makeup is on right. The cover of this book clearly shows her with her makeup on in a freaky (and kinda ugly) way. This book showcases overrated and not all that great "beauties". Save your money and buy a book with more substance.