Swaggy Steph reporting for duty, yet again, to answer another existential question : appearance vs Identity, who’s winning?
You're probably wondering where I'm headed with this title, which sounds catchy but also doesn't make sense.
I know … but don't stop reading just yet.
The truth behind the mirror: the role of appearance in shaping our sense of self
I think as you grow older, it becomes easier to read who you are on your face. What we commonly refer to as "wrinkles" are visible signs of how we navigate through life.
Too often, we try to erase them feverishly. Face lines bother us, they make visible the passing of time… and the hardships we are going through.
But even worse than wrinkles and lines, are those who have become expressionless in their attempt to stay young forever. Think “bold and beautiful Hollywood stars who simply refuse to let go of their youth”. You know who I’m talking about.
Honestly, I'd rather have a few wrinkles than look like one of those wax figures at Musée Grévin.
That might be why I don’t mind crow’s lines: to me, they are a sign of someone who laughs a lot.
I hate my frown line though, it reveals a side of me that’s more tense and anxious.
Although I’ve recently been told my specific shape - one line between the eyebrows- is actually a “Lion’s wrinkle”. Apparently, it means I’m fierce and very focused.
“Occasionally individuals with a deep line between the eyes are just deep thinkers with a busy mind and don’t necessarily have a strong negative emotional connection with the lines. I often find this in women with powerful, challenging careers such as CEOs. On a deeper level, however, frown lines can indicate frustration and impatience with the world or deep and prolonged suffering.”
Hey, I’ll take it! Whatever meaning I can extract from your wrinkles, I’ll make them work!
I think the second reason I don’t care about wrinkles is because my mum is the most beautiful woman I know … and she has more wrinkles than the average 60y old woman. Although her face lines do give away some clues, her identity shines way beyond wrinkles.
Peeling off the layers: the dialogue between identity and appearance
Swaggy's take on beauty is that it resides in a twinkle that emanates from within. To make it sound less cheesy, I’ll back up this claim with some Levinas Philosophy (boom).
"It is when you see a nose, eyes, a forehead, a chin, and you can describe them that you turn to others as an object. The best way to meet others is not even to look at the color of their eyes [...] The face speaks."
—Levinas, Éthique et infini 1
I think it’s cool to think of someone’s face this way, as a reception of otherness. When I meet someone for the first time, I search for clues about their story on their face before wondering whether or not I find them attractive. Sometimes I even look at myself in the mirror and see who I am deep down, through little clues only me can interpret.
- Tweet This
If you're anything like me, you may find this idea a little too fatalistic: am I destined to endure my inner life on my face? Is there anything other than unsustainable face yoga routines and 500€ face creams to age gracefully?
The power of physical appearance on identity
I say let’s take the power back my friends.
As most of you know, my favorite way to feel F*CKING GREAT, no matter what is going on, is through clothing.
The right clothes can make me feel like I can conquer the world. They draw attention to my energy, not my features.
And all of a sudden, I don’t even see my crow’s feet when I look at myself in the mirror.
I see a powerful and happy woman.
That’s the conquest, my friend.
And that’s something so surgery can ever buy.
Real life test : Sunshine Week
This week, I dressed up in a way that brought some sunshine into my life. It worked for me.
Sunshine Week by Swaggy Steph
What will be your power move next week? Share it and I will post on @swaggysteph__
1. “C’est lorsque vous voyez un nez, explique Lévinas, des yeux, un front, un menton, et que vous pouvez les décrire que vous vous tournez vers autrui comme vers un objet. La meilleure manière de rencontrer autrui, c’est de ne même pas regarder la couleur de ses yeux […] Le visage parle. »