The Unbearably Heavy Weight of Perfection

In my daily work as a psychotherapist, I hear countless stories of women’s psychological distress caused by their pursuit of physical “perfection.” As part of my doctoral dissertation, completed in 2011, I summarized research spanning several decades that points to the negative psychological impact of unrealistic physical standards. Unfortunately, the pressure has increased even more since then. In an era dominated by social media, heavily filtered images, and now AI-created content, unattainable beauty ideals have become normalized. These standards often emphasize, to name a few, absolutely flawless skin, extreme thinness, and idealized facial features.