The definition of Beauty has seen a very drastic change over the years and has turned into a nightmare for some people. There are still quite a few differing viewpoints on what beauty actually is. But, I believe that actions speak louder than words. What we do, how we do things, what we buy or sell will tell us what we truly think beauty means.

Rochdale is home to a very diverse community and also home to a lot of different businesses big and small. This makes Rochdale an ideal place to review in terms of defining beauty.

In Rochdale there are people from all walks of life; old, young, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, graduates and so on. At the same time Rochdale is full of different businesses. Every business, from every sector has to deal with the aspect of "beauty" in some form or the other. How these businesses advertise and prioritise will show us both the views of the businesses and the assumed views of the Rochdale community.

Rochdale has quite a few beauty salons, many of which provide a range of services. These service do look at outer beauty but many more focus on relaxing and therapies that aim to relieve stress. This shows that they not only define beauty through physical appearence, but also through inner calm and peace of mind (known to enhance friedliness and reduce irrateness).

Other businesses such as property, offices, technological companies seem to be very focused on presentation. Things being clean, clear, organised and elegant. These qualities appeal to the businesses and are assumed to be appealing to their clients as they use these to advertise their products and services. 

Another interesting aspect can be seen in the retail sector. Many shops now advertise larger size, giving "curves" more approval. Some stores don't even carry sizes below 8 (for females). This is a relatively recent move made by clothing businesses, to promote a more "healthy body type. Again reinforcing the idea that beauty is not just skin deep.

Over all Rochdale seems to place equal emphasis on the outer and inner in terms of beauty. Suggesting that what is outside matters but it's not the only thing that matters. Rochdale and the rest of the North West are even suggesting that the outside can be altered or portrayed in ways to make it more appealing. 

What do you think about beauty? Is society on the right track or do we need to evolve a bit more?