Staying True to Oneself: Commentary on Body Enhancement Obsession

Writing for Le Soleil, Samba Oumar Fall's commentary 'Rester soi-même' (Staying True to Oneself) delves into a societal malaise fueled by an obsession with appearance. The recent dismantling of a trafficking network for body enhancement products serves as a stark illustration of this trend. Fall uses this event to explore the psychological underpinnings, such as dysmorphophobia and low self-esteem, that drive individuals, particularly women, to seek drastic physical alterations. He contrasts this modern 'world of appearances' with a past where value was placed on knowledge and merit. The piece laments the shift towards prioritizing 'paraître' (seeming) over 'être' (being), suggesting that this focus on superficiality makes individuals susceptible to trends and external validation. Fall's perspective, rooted in a Senegalese context, highlights how this global phenomenon manifests locally, leading people to endanger their health for an idealized, often unattainable, 'plastic' ideal. The commentary serves as a cultural critique, urging a return to valuing inner qualities over outward appearance, a message particularly relevant in a society grappling with evolving beauty standards and the pervasive influence of media.

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we are no longer in the logic of the competition of knowledge, but in that of appearance, now open to mediocrity and ostentation.