When we founded btx berlin, it was clear to us from the very beginning: we wanted to build a feminist practice. Our beliefs and values should be reflected in our work. But what exactly does it mean to have a feminist practice in aesthetic medicine? How do we communicate a concept publicly that has probably never existed before? Is it even important to explain it?
Feminist principles in aesthetic medicine
We quickly developed a clear idea of what working in a feminist way means to us. Both of us had already worked in the field of aesthetic medicine before, and our concept was largely born from the thoughts we had been having all along, from the aspects that always made us feel uncomfortable elsewhere. In addition to reflecting on our work, we also quickly developed concrete guidelines.
Challenges in communication
What turned out to be more complicated was communicating our concept. At first glance, aesthetic medicine and feminism don’t seem to fit together, and we notice to this day that there is great interest, but at the same time we always have to explain what we mean by it.
Building a community
It is important to us to communicate our concept clearly because we want to build a community that sees itself reflected in our values and approach. We want to be found by people who are looking for such a safe space and feel comfortable with us. At the same time, there are people who are looking for something different from what we offer, and that is completely okay too.
Raising awareness about industry issues
Another goal is to use our concept to draw attention to problematic aspects of the industry and raise more awareness of these issues. By positioning ourselves and speaking publicly about these topics, we hope to encourage broader discussions about these problems and their backgrounds.
Controversies and misunderstandings
However, we often face skepticism and criticism, especially from the feminist community. Is it okay to found a practice for aesthetic medicine, profit from maintaining patriarchal beauty ideals, and still call yourself feminist? Many people have taken issue with the hashtag #feministbotox, as it naturally suggests at first glance that we frame Botox or aesthetic treatments themselves as feminist. From our point of view, aesthetic procedures themselves are not feminist. Rather, we try to make our practice and its framework as feminist as possible.
Compact and concise communication
Our concept requires explanation, but often there is no room for lengthy explanations in the media. Information needs to be conveyed compactly and concisely. A classic example of this is hashtags. After much consideration and discussion, we decided on the hashtag #feministbotox. We are aware that this hashtag is controversial and raises many questions. We ourselves often wondered whether it might be misunderstood. Our decision for the hashtag #feministbotox was shaped by different considerations and ambivalences. We thought deeply about how we could best communicate our beliefs and values. The hashtag is intended to help communicate our values and reach a community that identifies with them. We are looking forward to the reactions and to exchanging ideas with everyone who shares our vision.
