In this smart and engagingly written book, Chiara Piazzesi argues that beauty is no superficial matter. Most women, even the staunchest feminists among us, gain satisfaction and confidence from beauty practices. The book invites us to look respectfully at how women of all ages and backgrounds walk a tightrope between the need for self-expression, the desire for recognition, and the pressures from social conventions. A clear and convincing call to understand the paradoxes that make women embrace the beauty culture, while, at the same time, being critical of it.

Kathy Davis, VU University Amsterdam

A lucid exploration of women’s experience of beauty in their everyday lives: well researched, nuanced, and attuned to the paradoxes of Western beauty culture. The Beauty Paradox pinpoints the social and political dimensions of attractiveness and the influence this has on women’s daily lives.

Christina Scharff, King's College London

Piazzesi’s work ventures into relatively uncharted sociological territory with its focused inquiry into the phenomena of beautification and selfie culture—areas that have (arguably) not traditionally been at the forefront of sociological research. This exploration is particularly significant as it broadens the scope of an area ripe for academic exploration yet often overlooked or underestimated in its complexity and impact on social identity and norms. Piazzesi’s work, therefore, stands as a pivotal contribution to the field, effectively opening the door for scholars to further investigate the nuanced interplay between digital self-representation, beauty standards, and femininity.

Gender & Society