Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Outside the Mirror badge requirements.
Info Needed: Beauty isn’t the same everywhere or every time. Beauty standards are shaped by society, media, and trends, but they don’t define genuine beauty. Different cultures and moments in history have their own standards and being yourself is always beautiful. Learn about beauty standards in other cultures to recognize that beauty is defined in many different ways. Being true to yourself is more powerful than fitting into any single idea of what’s “normal.”
Items Needed:
- 2–3 printed Global Beauty Standard countries.
- You can find information for countries in Cultural Beauty Standards Around the World.
- Pen or pencil.
- (Optional) Timer or stopwatch.
- (Optional) Notebook or blank paper.
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 25–30 min):
- Read through 2–3 Global Beauty Standard countries. (Estimated Time: 6–7 min)
- Focus on what each country admires or celebrates as beautiful.
- Look for unique traits, traditions, or trends that stand out.
- Choose one culture to spotlight. (Estimated Time: 2–3 min)
- Pick the card that felt most surprising, interesting, or meaningful.
- Use your paper or notebook to prepare a short summary.
- Prepare a solo 30-second spotlight. (Estimated Time: 8–10 min)
- Write or speak out loud a short presentation:
- Name the culture or country.
- Describe what is admired or expected in that region.
- Share why it caught your attention or how it compares to what you see in your own life.
- (Optional) Use a timer to keep it short and focused.
- Write or speak out loud a short presentation:
- Reflect quietly or write a few thoughts. (Estimated Time: 5–6 min)
- What do these different standards say about what people value?
- Did anything surprise you?
- What’s something you admire about your own appearance that might not be in a beauty card?
The Badge Archive 