An ethnography of the dialectical relationship between children and beauty commodities

Abstract

This paper, the result of ethnographic research in beauty salons in the Federal District (Brazil), proposes a reflection on the social life of the goods that make up the production of beauty products – such as makeup, cosmetics, and adornments-exploring the complex dialectical relationship between children from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and these aesthetic objects. The challenge is, therefore, to think not only about what children do with the goods but also what these goods do to children, focusing on how both constitute themselves. Using resources such as informal conversations and games, the study stands out for privileging the children perspective in the face of the growing presence of the beauty market in their daily lives and the valorization of specific aesthetic standards. The paper has a threefold structure: a view of the beauty market in Brazil, an analysis of children’ consumption, and six ethnographic narratives that illustrate the intersection between childhood, the body, and the beauty industry.