Introductoin

 

Introduction: Why Talk About Lookism? -Yuki Fukuda

In a world increasingly shaped by visual culture, Instagram filters, influencer beauty, and AI-generated perfection, how you look, often matters more than it should. This blog, "Lookism", is dedicated to exploring one of the most overlooked yet pervasive forms of social bias: discrimination based on appearance.

I chose this topic not because I think beauty is unimportant, but because I believe the way society treats beauty is often unfair, harmful, and deeply rooted in systems of inequality. Lookism isn’t just about vanity or preference, it impacts people’s job opportunities, mental health, self-esteem, dating lives, and even their safety. And yet, we rarely name it for what it is: a form of discrimination.

As I began researching the topic for a class project, I quickly realized that lookism intersects with many important social issues—racism, sexism, classism, and ableism, to name a few. Why are certain features considered "beautiful" across the globe? How do social media and celebrity culture reinforce those ideals? And more importantly, what would it take to build a world where people are valued for more than just how they look?