Taking the concept of beauty seriously, this encyclopedia examines how humanity has sought and continues to seek what is "beautiful" in a variety of cultural contexts, giving readers an understanding of how to look at beauty both intellectually and critically.Is beauty ever more than "skin deep"? Arguably yes, considering that the concept of beauty-and the pursuit of it-has shaped cultures worldwide, across every time period, and has even served to change the course of history. Studying beauty practices yields insight into social status, wealth, political ideology, religious doctrine, and gender expectations, including gender nonconformity. A truly interdisciplinary text, Beauty around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia presents an insightful perspective on beauty that draws from philosophy, literature, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and feminist studies, giving readers a unique view of world beauty practices.This volume offers information about beauty practices from the past to the present in alphabetical entries that address terms and topics such as "beards," "dreadlocks," "Geisha," "moko tattoos," and "progressive muscularity." Readers will better comprehend how beauty shapes many social interactions in profound ways worldwide, and that the unspoken social agreements that shape ideals of attractiveness and desirability within any given culture can matter very much. The encyclopedia's entries challenge readers to consider the questions "What is beauty?" and "Why does it matter?" A comprehensive bibliography is a valuable resource for further research.

Identifies numerous authoritative sources of information for further research and reading

List of EntriesPrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroductionThe EncyclopediaAppendix: Opposing ViewpointsQuestion 1: Psychology with a Scalpel: Does Cosmetic Surgery Boost Self-Esteem?Response 1: Psychology with a Scalpel: Yes, Cosmetic Surgery Boosts Self-EsteemResponse 2: Cosmetic Surgery: Boon or Bane?Question 2: Is Beauty a Biological Imperative or a Cultural Preference?Response 1: What Could You Expect from a Nation that Has Won a Total of 22 International Beauty Pageants?Response 2: On the Irrelevance of GeneticsQuestion 3: The Rise of the Transgendered Beauty Pageant: Is Biology a Fixed Category?Response 1: Transgender Beauty Pageants: An Imperfect SolutionResponse 2: Transgender Pageants: An Occasion for CelebrationQuestion 4: If Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Why Is It So Important?Response 1: Beauty and the LawResponse 2: Language Is Skin Deep-A Glance at Metaphorical BeautyQuestion 5: How is Men's Beauty Increasingly Commodified?Response 1: Men's BeautyResponse 2: Subtle Play by Mr. GraySelected BibliographyAbout the Authors and ContributorsIndex