In athletics, the name Carl Lewis was always on everyone's lips during the Seul Olympics of 1988 but it was a Canadian athlete Ben Johnson that stole the show during one of the races as he beat Carl Lewis of the US to the gold medal but was later stripped of it, why? He tested positive for steroids and when he was caught at another event for the use of steroids he was banned for life. Disgraced and humiliated, his career came to a grinding halt.
A lot of athletes have also been banned because of the use of steroids to enhance their performance in other sports as well.
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The bans and restrictions on Russian athletes tells a story of how sportsmen who use performance enhancing drugs are viewed negatively despite their natural abilities. This is often seen has giving a false impression of someone's abilities or better still cheating.
In the modeling and beauty industry, models use makeups and photoshop to enhance their beauty and appearance. Some are concerned that it is also cheating since what people see is not their natural beauty but an enhanced photo. To them it is on the same lane as using steroids to boost performance. Let's examine these views and consider some facts that touch on societal belief, fair competition, individual expression and the regulating guidelines.
HOW THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY VIEWS THE USE OF MAKEUP:
In the modeling world and the beauty industry, makeups are considered an intrinsic part of the beauty industry and is seen as a tool to transform the appearance of models and to promote self-expression and confidence using diverse beauty styles.
Photoshop on the other hand is used to enhance the appearance of models after they have applied makeup on their faces. Some frown at this digital manipulation of looks because they feel that it may make some models to get involved in questionable practices so so have a perfect look. Digital manipulations give the impression that natural beauty even with the use of makeups Is not enough.
HOW DO SPORTS FEDERATIONS VIEW THE USE OF STEROIDS?:
Sports governing bodies of different sports ban the use of performance enhancing drugs because it damages the integrity of sports and it works against the spirit of fair play.
The use of steroids is seen as cheating because while other athletes painstakingly spend hours in training for a competition to showcase their natural abilities ,a few who use drugs bypass this process and present a performance that does not reflect their real abilities on a level playing field with the others. The results gotten from the use of steroids is not authentic and fair.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE'S VIEWS:
People generally accept the use of makeups to enhance beauty and it is often left to the realm of personal choice that aligns with the way the beauty industry is programmed for creative beauty. As to the use of photoshop in the beauty industry, there are concerns that it may promote unrealistic beauty standards as it is a digital manipulation of what is not real. To correct this, I will suggest that if images are digitally altered there should be a full disclosure of the alterations made.
On the other hand, the use of steroids in sports is seen in negative light. What drives the beauty industry is the projection and enhancement of beauty while the integrity of sport is hinged on fair competition which the use of steroids violates. That is why athletes who use steroids are punished unlike models who use makeups.
CONCLUSION:
In my opinion I feel there is nothing wrong if models use makeups and they should be allowed but digital manipulation of beauty is not the same as enhancement of beauty they should be disclosure and transparency when this is done. The use of steroids should continue to be discouraged because it doesn't promote fairness. Athletes who compete make use of makeups too when competing because it is acceptable but the use of steroids crosses the line. To all the ladies, use makeups ooo to boost your beauty so that they beholders will be impressed.
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