Disciplinary “beauty” practices are everyday behaviors that we employ in order to maintain our body in line with society’s standards. These practices are usually very trivial and are taken-for-granted behaviors. Some of these practices include shaving our legs, styling our hair, applying makeup, fake tanning, and many more. Disciplinary practices are driven by the production and consumption of products; the use of these products is connected to media advertisement. Therefore the media is really the driving force for women being involved in these routines. The media portrays very unrealistic ideals of what a woman should be, and it is especially harmful in the eyes of young girls. The media constructs an image of the female body that is white, thin, beautiful, and extremely made-up. We are constantly seeing these images throughout the day through different forms of media and it is unrealistic. Currently, many women have been involved in reality shows that send the women away and promise to return them as prettier, better people. This is completed under extreme conditions such as plastic surgery, cosmetics, and other technologies of body management. “Such shows encourage people to pass for a younger age and have normalized cosmetic surgery (especially breast implants) as something ordinary women should seek and want” (pg 241). These shows portray very extreme conditions to recreate a person, and the average woman believes she must go through this process as well. It is unbelievable how much time and money these shows put into these makeovers and they are extremely unnecessary especially in terms of body management for women. Through the development of consumerism and global products, the corporate mind is telling many women that they are “not good enough the way they are but need certain products to improve their looks or their relationship” (pg 141). With these influences and the pressures of society, there has been an enormous boom in the industries with women trying to meet these extreme standards. The fashion, make-up, weight loss, and beauty industries have profited greatly and there numbers are increasing even more with the new technologies that are proven to “help” us become beautiful.
2. What exactly do you think the ideal woman’s and man’s body look like? How are power relations reflected and reinforced in beauty and body norms? How do beauty and body norms affect women and men differently? How do these ideals affect the ways you think about your own body?
When I think of an ideal woman’s or man’s body the number one criteria should be health. This body should be fit (not too skinny, not too muscular). Society has truly influenced my ideals of the ideal body though, because I also believe this person should be tan, tall, have well maintained hair, and essentially be beautiful. Power relations are reflected and reinforced in beauty and body norms because groups with more power set the trends for what the ideal beauty and body should be. They are very visible in the eyes of society and therefore can have a more powerful influence on the standards that we set. The incredible part is that these standards which we hold for ourselves are being set my other people, many times men. “Corporate powers, advertising, and the fashion, cosmetics, and entertainment industries all help create standards for us and reinforce gender relations” (pg 237). Beauty and body norms have a much greater impact on women then men. “There is a double standard of beauty for women and men: Physical appearance is more important in terms of the way women are perceived and treated” (pg 232). When a women ages she is immediately put in the spotlight as unattractive and younger men should not try to make a move on her. When a man ages, he can become sexier and more mature. It takes on a much more positive aspect for men then for women. Therefore, the woman must always fight to be seen differently from the very beginning, whereas men are already ahead. These ideals have a strong influence on how I see my body. As a little girl, I saw society influencing my mom to go to the beauty parlor, diet, and shop for expensive clothing. I use to watch her apply make-up as seen on tv and could not wait to do the same. Then as I grew older and started being immediately affected by these ideals, it became very depressing. It seems like it is always an uphill struggle to try to be beautiful in society and meet the standards. I have had some major body image issues that I can immediately recognize as being influenced by society. It’s hard enough to try to be beautiful, but then you also have to try to ignore society and realize you are ok the way you are. The latter is usually even harder.
3. Does the sexualization of women’s bodies (breasts, buttocks, legs, etc) vary by race or other subculture? Explain. Discuss the different ways that girls who are white and girls who are not white (white is normative, right?) understand “beauty” (beauty aesthetic). What is your experience of the relationship between race/ethnicity and the politics of “beauty”? (Remember white people have a race and ethnicity too).
The sexualization of women’s bodies varies greatly by race and other subcultures. White women attempt to attain the “Barbie doll” look. This woman must be blonde, extremely skinny, but yet have large breasts. It is usually much more acceptable for African American girls to be more curvaceous and to have larger butts. African American girls are more able to look past the beauty ideals and focus more on style. Chinese women idolize women with longer legs. They even have technologies that seem extremely painful that promise to lengthen their legs by a few centimeters. White girls basically understand beauty in the physical aspect. They may say it is what is on the inside that accounts, but in reality they are attempting to perfect their bodies everyday to look as society wants. African American girls define beauty “through attitude, style, personality, and presence rather than through attaining the ‘perfect’ look” (pg 261). Latino girls place much emphasis on grooming. In a way this is a physically related understanding as well because they must have all their clothes ironed perfectly and their hair clean. At times, I am even jealous of the beauty ideals that African American and Latino girls have. I think curves are beautiful and that white men do appreciate them; however, the media only allows these for women of other ethnicities. African American women are also seen as stronger and more confident and white women as a lot weaker. I do not fit this white “mold” and would rather have the African American ideals. Also, with the surge in Latino influence in the media, it seems that the Latino girl is the “sexiest” girl to guys. They also have the curves, the tanned skin, and the free-flowing dark hair. I want that standard. But the typical American standard is far different.
2 comments:
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