Jordan B. Peterson

And What's Beautiful

Last week’s post about Love is Blind, specifically about the show’s deliberate casting of individuals who are conventionally attractive, reminded me of an old Jordan B. Peterson tweet.

We’ll dissect that tweet and the conventional beauty standards in our society, but first, for those who don’t know who he is (bless you).

Peterson is a Canadian psychologist, professor, and author known for his work in psychology, culture, and politics. Jordan Peterson's vocal opinions have established him as a divisive figure. He garners both admiration and criticism for his stances on various social and political matters. His supporters see him as a defender of free speech and personal accountability. Conversely, his detractors argue that his perspectives are conservative and contentious, especially in relation to gender and identity politics.

I have my own thoughts on Peterson in general, which I may fully share in a future post, but what I want to talk about on this edition is this tweet from Peterson from 2022:

There’s a lot going on in that brief tweet:

“Sorry. Not beautiful. And no amount of authoritarian tolerance is going to change that.”

First of all, beauty is subjective. Peterson made that statement as if it was a fact, which is something he tends to do often. “Sorry. Not beautiful,” is not a fact, but is nothing more than a personal opinion masquerading as incontrovertible fact—a rhetorical tactic Peterson frequently employs, cloaking his subjective judgments in the guise of universal absolutes.

Moreover, the term "authoritarian tolerance" demands a closer look. Presumably, Peterson is alluding to a perceived societal or media-induced compulsion to embrace and exalt particular standards of beauty—an imposition he deems authoritarian, suggesting an intolerance towards dissenting views. Yet, one must question the veracity of this alleged phenomenon. Is Sports Illustrated truly orchestrating a tyrannical campaign against Peterson’s aesthetic sensibilities? The assertion seems not only exaggerated but indicative of a broader tendency to interpret cultural shifts as coercive mandates, rather than as part of the complex and multifaceted discourse that characterizes modern society.

To distill this into a more profound introspection, one might consider whether Peterson's discomfort stems not from an actual authoritarian edict, but rather from a deeper anxiety about shifting paradigms that challenge long-held norms. This unease is then projected onto institutions like Sports Illustrated, which, in their celebration of diverse beauty, become convenient scapegoats for the existential dread provoked by change.

I commend Sports Illustrated and similar media outlets for their efforts in celebrating body types that deviate from the conventional archetypes traditionally showcased in most magazines. The undeniable reality is that overweight individuals exist, as do people with disabilities for that matter. By featuring these diverse bodies, media platforms acknowledge and validate the multiplicity of human forms, challenging the narrow standards that have long dominated our culture.

This inclusive representation serves not merely as a corrective to the historical marginalization of non-normative bodies but also as a profound affirmation of their inherent worth and beauty. In a society saturated with images that often privilege a singular, unattainable ideal, the act of exalting varied physiques is both revolutionary and necessary. It reflects a deeper understanding that beauty transcends reductive stereotypes and resides in the richness of human diversity.

Furthermore, this shift towards inclusivity can be seen as a crucial step in fostering a more empathetic and realistic portrayal of humanity. By presenting a broader spectrum of body types, media outlets contribute to a cultural dialogue that embraces difference, promotes self-acceptance, and ultimately enriches our collective perception of beauty.

Recalling last week’s post again, I hope for a future season of Love is Blind that prominently features individuals like Yumi Nu, thereby offering a more inclusive and expansive portrayal of beauty. Such representation would not only add diversity to the show's visual appeal but also challenge and expand societal perceptions of beauty.

As for Peterson, one can only hope that someone might relieve him of his access to Twitter (now X), thereby sparing him and us from his frequent excursions into absolutism. Social media, with its propensity to amplify and distort, seems to provide an inexhaustible platform for his proclamations, often delivered with the unyielding conviction of a self-appointed arbiter of truth.

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