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Amber Jackson examines pre-colonial Yoruba aesthetics through art and oral literature with the goal of examining the uses and value of beauty as a social tool of control and maintenance. In reinforcing and accepting socially selected beauty ideals, pre-colonial Yoruba society also reinforced acceptable patterns of behavior, gender dynamics, and gendered notions of success, making beauty an indicator of conformity and social belonging. By examining the ancient Yoruba people, this work presents a case study that sheds light on the sociological functions of beauty standards.

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Amber Jackson is a graduate of Princeton University from Nashville, Tennessee with a strong interest in the histories, arts, and cultures of the African continent. Princeton University sponsored her travel to both East and West Africa, fostering strong beliefs in the value of the African perspectives and the untold stories of Africa s past.

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