Revisiting Cinderella: Breaking the Stereotypical Beauty Standards

Abstract

In Contemporary society, the promotion of narrow and idealized beauty standards has led to the marginalization of bodies that do not confirm to these standards. The study explores the transformative potential of fashion and clothing choices as means to challenge and subvert these beauty ideals from a feminist perspective. Recent emergence of body positivity movement led to the celebration of different body types. By presenting diverse bodies through fashion, the study aims to foster a more inclusive representation of beauty. The study embarks on a transformative journey through the reimagined world of Cinderella. Giving voice to marginalized bodies through fashion choices as examined in Julie Murphy’s novel If the Shoe Fits (2021). As fashion holds an immense potential beyond mere aesthetic appeal; it serves as powerful medium for constructing and expressing personal identity. The purpose of the study is to critically examine how contemporary literature reacts to the social construction of ideal body image. If the Shoe Fits (2021) challenges the exclusive thinking of society through deconstructing beauty ideals, examining the intricate relationship between fashion choices and the subversion of normative standards of physical beauty through presenting positive images of diverse bodies in literature.