Having caused quite the stir on various social media platforms in recent weeks, it has become virtually impossible (yay puns) to ignore the dominating presence that the "Don't Judge Challenge" has created for itself. Yet if by some stroke of luck you've managed to evade crossing its path, I'll give you a Cliff Notes explanation of it.
Essentially, teens have been making short videos in which they disguise themselves as stereotypically "unattractive" individuals - drawing on their faces with markers to give themselves excess facial hair, acne, or missing teeth and using makeup to otherwise "distort" their appearance. They then raise a hand to the camera, the screen goes black, and when you see them next they are showing the world their quote-unquote genuine selves. (Pro Tip: I didn't understand exactly what these videos were when explained to me the first time, so I suggest watching a couple of them on youtube so you can get a better idea).
While this challenge may have started out in the hopes of encouraging individuals to embrace their imperfections, it quickly took a turn for the worse and has gained a considerable amount of backlash as a result. Rather than promoting a culture of self-acceptance, the Don't Judge Challenge has only served to further perpetuate societal stereotypes of beauty by mocking the appearance-based insecurities that many people have.
When I first saw these videos, I'll admit that I was a little bit confused. What, exactly, was I supposed to refrain from judging? Were the individuals making these videos attempting to state something along the lines of the following: "Just because I have these imperfections, that doesn't mean that I can't make myself look pretty"? Or was it something else entirely? Were they simply and callously making fun of the individuals who possess these physical attributes? Regardless of what each individual's intent was behind these videos, I found that I was being judgmental - not of the appearances being portrayed, but of the blatant superficiality that was clearly embedded in this "challenge" as a whole.
Now let me just say that I have absolutely zero issue with people wanting to use makeup if doing so makes them feel more confident with themselves. By all means, have at it. I'll be the first to admit that I've piled on concealer when an unwelcome zit pops up and that I love to wear eyeliner and mascara on the daily. It makes me feel good about myself, so I do it. Having said this, I think it's complete bullsh*t that some individuals who are against this challenge are claiming that those who like to wear makeup are "fake" and ashamed of their true selves. If wearing eyeliner/mascara/blush/what-have-you gives someone confidence, it's their prerogative to wear it whenever they so please.
My issue with this unfortunate internet trend has to do rather with its hypocrisy. The sheer irony that this challenge is, in actuality, really freaking judgmental should not be lost on any of us. Whether this judgement is directed at people who have acne, people who like to use makeup, people who wear glasses, etc. isn't the issue - the fact that there is so much judgement and contempt being thrown at people in the first place is the issue.
Our society as a whole places far too much emphasis on appearance and I find it really sad that a challenge that was supposed to encourage us to embrace who we are and how we like to present ourselves has turned into something so superficial, judgmental, and ugly. What does "beauty" constitute anyways? We act as though there is one single definition of it, yet in reality beauty is a very subjective concept and we only harm ourselves by defining it so narrowly. All this challenge has done is further promote the idea that in order to be beautiful, one must not possess certain physical attributes that society deems "undesirable" or "unacceptable" and it has, subsequently, created more harm than good.
Yet what I found most startling is the catch-22 that many people find themselves in when seeking to acquire this illusive "beauty" standard. I'm supposed to be naturally beautiful. And if I wear makeup, I'm fake. But if I don't, and GOD FORBID, I have acne - which many people do - I'm unattractive. All we're left with is an innate necessity to navigate a winding road that doesn't actually end up in any one destination.
Everyone is going to have insecurities about their appearance. If they say they don't, they're probably lying to themselves and to you. What we need to focus our energy on is embracing ourselves for who we are as opposed to comparing ourselves to others and judging ourselves based on their appearances. I realize that this challenge may have started off with good intentions, but it is clear to me now more than ever just how destructive of a turn these internet trends can take. So many people say that they want to combat the beauty standard that society has set for itself, yet if we keep taking part in trends such as these, we are only adding more fuel to what is already too strong of a fire. I applaud those who've taken a stance against this challenge, and encourage others to do the same.
