My Life: Fatima Al Shamsi

Ever since New York City taxis introduced little television screens a few years back, whenever I get in one I turn it off. Daily routine is already filled with screens; I don't need every second of my life, including my commute, to be part of an endless bombardment of irrelevant advertisements and entertainment gossip. But the other day I forgot to turn off the miniature cab television and caught a commercial that perplexed me. A young, generically attractive, scantily clad couple was depicted pillow fighting, which ended with the woman victorious. The caption read "Beauty conquers all". It was an ad for cosmetic surgery. It took me a while to process all the different messages conveyed by this short clip. Basically, if you want to win, you have to be beautiful and skinny. When did plastic surgery become so common and acceptable that it was now being encouraged? Yes, I could have ignored it as a mindless ad, but having grown up seeing firsthand what superficial social pressures can do to people, especially young girls and boys, it made me uneasy to think that not only could you infer that beautiful is better but also that you could achieve beauty through surgery. I believe that if you haven't realised that looks aren't all, let alone the main aspect, of someone, then there is still much to learn. So much of what makes up a person comes from his or her viewpoints and tastes and cares and worries that I could never imagine dismissing someone for not being "beautiful". With that said, I have no problem with anyone who has plastic surgery, nor do I think it is my place to judge people who believe they can enhance their lives by undergoing it. From hair removal, fake eyelashes or hair extensions, you can argue that any or all of these are cosmetic procedures and that it's not fair to look down upon only the more drastic procedures such as liposuction or changing the shape of your nose. I think if it helps you to feel better about yourself and your life then it's no one's place to judge. What bothers me is the larger social implications of making cosmetic surgery acceptable and trying to sell it in a commercial. The effects of such surgery can be physically and emotionally damaging. Not only can cosmetic surgery be addictive, with people trying to change every little thing they feel is wrong without ever being satisfied, but also the physical risks are serious. People have died from plastic surgery, and it makes me wonder if it's worth the risk. I have been surprised over the past few years by how common plastic surgery is in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. As in any big city, people want to look their best and will go to any means. But I worry that with the advent of plastic surgery commercials, we are almost proclaiming that this is something supported by society. Instead of encouraging people to see beyond the superficial, such surgery is becoming socially acceptable. That makes the pressure even more real for those who think they need to change something about their appearance. What I have always loved about Islam's view on modesty is that it is not only meant to teach the individual to be modest as a form of self-respect and respect for others, but also to protect him or her from the traps of vanity. There are so many more important matters in life and much better ways to use time and money. I believe that "beauty conquers all" - but not physical beauty. Beautiful people are beautiful because of their actions and how they treat people, not because of how big their lips are and how small their waist is.