Sex Talk: Understanding women’s obsession with physical looks

What the report says

The Observer published a lifestyle opinion piece arguing that the growing popularity of cosmetic and appearance-related changes among women is driven less by men alone and more by broader social pressure to value physical attractiveness. The article says that women may be responding to what it calls “erotic capital,” a term associated with sociologist Catherine Hakim, and points to procedures and trends such as Brazilian butt lifts, liposuction, breast surgery, weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, wigs and skin-lightening practices as examples of attempts to improve how women are perceived.

The piece frames this as a reaction to a society that rewards beauty in work, social settings and relationships, suggesting that people with more attractive appearances are often treated better. It also uses everyday examples, including how a person may be treated differently depending on the car they drive, to illustrate the idea that status signals can affect access and respect.

The author says older generations of women were more directly shaped by men’s preferences because marriage and keeping a husband were central to women’s economic security and social standing. A quoted anecdote from a woman approaching 50 years of marriage describes past expectations around sexual appearance and body changes. The article contrasts that with today’s women, who it says have more education, money and independence and are now more likely to make such decisions for themselves. It cites Ugandan figure Mami Deb, also known as Deborah Nantongo, as someone who reportedly chose breast reduction against her husband’s wishes.