by Jenny Abel

Alright, quiz time. Ladies first: given the choice, would you rather be called “pretty” or “hot”? Now guys: do you consider “pretty” or “hot” the better compliment for a woman?

A recent article in the National Catholic Register, “The Death of Pretty,” got me thinking about these words, the difference between them, and how their proportionate use/disuse reflects our society’s values.

The article’s gist is that “pretty”—defined as a “combination of beauty and innocence”—has waned as an ideal; no longer do most girls or even older women aspire to be pretty. While still practically in their infancy, girls today are pushed toward “hotness”—read: sexiness—which has an altogether different implication. “Hotness” is something consumable, commodified, and temporary—less naïve and edgier.

This article struck a chord with me for many reasons. However, at its core, it really just hits on the same recurring problems in societies—and human hearts—since the beginning of time.

Just as there are two sides in the epic battle of good vs. evil, there are two ways to view the feminine mystique. On the one hand is the beauty (internal and external) created by God as a reflection of His own divine beauty. This beauty in women has rightfully inspired and been admired by men of all ages. On the other hand is the distortion of that beauty, in which women’s God-given attributes are used instead for evil—as tools to tempt the hearts of men or as idols of women’s own hearts. Important to note is that being “hot” or “sexy” is not always tied to evil; however, context—inside vs. outside marriage—is crucial.

I would agree with the article’s author that American society as a whole does glorify the distorted form of feminine beauty more so today than in the past. The roots of this shift can be traced to several related and mutually reinforcing factors, from the mid-1900s sexual revolution to the deepening crisis in the institution of marriage (and thus in family life) to the breakdown in Judeo-Christian principles as our culture’s foundation to the proliferation of the visual image. The ability of digital technology to further distort beauty, deceive the viewer through heavily doctored images, and distribute those images with ease has profoundly influenced what many are calling the “pornification” of our society.

Although evil in this area may be increasingly prevalent, it’s important to remember the hearts of women and men have not changed from fifty—or a few thousand—years ago. What was holding many men and women back half a century ago may have been the public unacceptability of a certain sin rather than a genuine desire for holiness.

In a world in which physical beauty has always been, and always will be, abused and misused, millennial Christians need to shine a light. As theologian Ravi Zacharias has aptly put it, we were made to see beauty “through the eye with the conscience,” not, as many do today, “with the eye devoid of a conscience.” The siren calls of our apparel and media industries are strong; the temptations bombard us anew each day. We women can choose to use our bodies to serve God or allow them to be used as tools of Satan in the world. Likewise, men can perpetuate our society’s physical-, sex-focused view of females, and thus risk their own destruction (Proverbs 7:27), or choose to regard and affirm the women in their lives based on the attributes that matter in God’s eyes (see Proverbs 31:10-31).

The battle lines are drawn—the question is, will we have the courage to take the less popular, yet eternally rewarding, side?

A guest blogger for Rising Voice, Jenny Abel is a freelance writer/editor who lives in Virginia with her husband, Ben, who she met at the Focus Leadership Institute in 2002. In addition to reading up on and debating current issues, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, drinking hot tea, and participating in just about anything competitive (especially Scrabble and Wii Sports).