Hand-Me-Downs

Like family heirlooms, insecurities too make their way down the generations. So, how can we consciously break away from the vicious cycle? Tatiana Dias finds out

- Tatiana Dias

Sarees, jewellery, and secret recipes-when you think of Indian heirlooms, a romantic montage comes to mind. Within these legacies lies an inheritance that's often overlooked-aesthetic trauma. As the years roll on, it does rear its ugly head. Think of this phenomenon as the gold beauty standard set years ago and passed down the generations from fair skin to lightly coloured eyes to poker straight hair-resulting in unrealistic societal expectations that impact mental health drastically in the long run.

Although not a commonly used term in the field of mental health, Mumbai-based psychologist Sanam Devidasani says aesthetic trauma is often related to body image issues and the insecurities that come with it. "Any difficult experiences related to one's appearance that led to some kind of trauma. It could be appearance-based bullying, discrimination, pressure to look a certain way and sexual abuse," she says.

Explaining it further, Devidasani says that this caucasian obsession dates far back to colonialism, followed by globalisation and consumerism. "Even now, when you look at the media and entertainment industry, a lot of the women who are in the forefront are all light or even-skinned, thin, tall, or are simply not Indian," she describes. This repeats the pattern of setting unrealistic beauty standards, resulting in a vicious cycle.

ROOTED IN INSECURITIES