Karen Lehrman

Feminist arguments that societal beauty standards harm women are misguided, contends Karen Lehrman in the subsequent viewpoint. In fact, she maintains, standards of female beauty have relaxed considerably in recent years; while some women elect to follow the dictates of the fashion industry, many do not. Moreover, she writes, society’s beauty standards have helped women by emphasizing the importance of exercise and healthy eating. Lehrman is the author of The Lipstick Proviso: Women, Sex, and Power in the Real World, from which this viewpoint is excerpted.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What examples does Lehrman give to show that contemporary society no longer promotes rigid standards of female beauty"
2. What is the feminist critique of beauty, as explained by the author?
3. According to the author, what...