Vanity is too much pride in your looks, abilities, or achievements. It can also refer to the idea that something is empty and without real value, especially in older or religious language.
From Latin 'vanitas', meaning 'emptiness' or 'worthlessness'. The word passed through Old French into English, keeping both the idea of emptiness and the idea of shallow pride.
It’s wild that the same word covers both loving yourself too much and being basically ‘empty’. The idea is that if you care only about appearances, there isn’t much real substance underneath. That’s why old paintings show skulls and fading flowers to warn about ‘vanity’ and how temporary beauty is.
"Vanity" has often been used in a gendered way, with women disproportionately labeled as vain for caring about appearance, while similar behavior in men might be framed as confidence or status-consciousness. This reflects historical double standards around beauty and self-presentation.
Avoid using "vanity" to police appearance or self-expression in a way that targets women or any gendered group more harshly. Critique harmful norms or pressures rather than individuals’ self-care or style.
["self-importance","image-consciousness","status-seeking"]
When discussing beauty standards and 'vanity,' acknowledge how women have both been constrained by and actively challenged these norms, including through feminist and body-positivity movements.
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