Use of Women’s Beauty and Makeup in Battle: Unveiling Stereotypes and Strength

Abstract

Since the earliest writings of Bharatmuni's Natyashastra, an essential text in Indian aesthetics written more than two thousand years ago, women have been essentially connected with beauty and makeup. Shringararasa was mostly associated with women in the Rasa philosophy. This link has persisted and can even be seen in current Hollywood productions. It is interesting how beauty has been portrayed in two distinct manners throughout various historical works of literature, films, and books. On one hand, it has supported stereotypes like child marriage and placed restrictions on women's access to higher education and the workforce. On the other side, beauty has the ability to oppose patriarchy and, in a larger sense, be a tool for engaging in the struggle against oppression and lending support to diverse freedom movements. When faced with these obstacles, women stand out as heroes because they actively destroy patriarchal repressive institutions. Numerous narratives, motion pictures, and stage plays—both fiction and non-fiction—emphasize the extraordinary resilience of women and demonstrate how they employ cosmetics and beauty not just as a means of self-expression but also as instruments of adaptation in feminist movements and combat zones. These tales capture the essence of Goddess Durga, who stands for fortitude and tenacity. This paper analyses both perspectives of beauty, citing various texts, movies, novels, and other media as sources for its arguments. Let us continue the teachings of history, mythology, and film by traversing the complexity of beauty, strength, and resistance. Let us raise the voices of those who question conventions, celebrate diversity, and collaborate to create a society where every individual, regardless of gender, may thrive and contribute to the prosperity of a genuinely inclusive and just world.