Women, their Bodies and Beauty Perceptions - Assignment Example

Women, their bodies and beauty perceptions Over the years there has been the misconception that for women to be termed beautiful, they need to be skinny. With the media expanding and portraying different forms of ideals that make women beautiful, it is evident that a great percentage of women are struggling with who they are, and some are even trying to change their look completely so as they can fit the society’s expectations. Indeed the concept of beauty is a gender issue that continually strains the woman and how she looks in the society. This paper will assess the concept of the female/ women’s bodies and the perception of beauty and the struggles that women experience to fit the society’s expectations of the ideal woman. As seen in the work of Kirk & Okazawa-Rey, as the women grow up, they are socialized into women and even given descriptions on how a perfect female body should look like and how they are anticipated to live up to this reality (121-162). The women in turn completely change their views on how their bodies look like, design new model of their look and even change their beliefs on their exact identity. With this in mind, it is expected that the women will take into account what their bodies are made for and even attempt to determine how their bodies will change as they develop from one stage to another (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 121-162). This thought is shared by Serdar who indicates that, the media has continually shaped the female body image (1). In her opinion, the author is wary of the extent in which the society sets socio-cultural standards that the women are expected to follow in the course of their development (Serdar 1). With the media emphasizing on the ideal body type and image, it is evident that lots of women will struggle to meet that standards of beauty that are, to a great extent, unattainable. One can easily relate to the plight of the women that constantly struggle to identify themselves with the beauty models in their televisions sets in the form of fashion models, advertisement queens and presenters of renowned shows. The response by the women being discontented about their physical appearance can then be understood from the perspective of Serdar. The society in this case, can be termed as one of factors that result to gender inequalities in the society. As far as this case point is concerned, the women are forced to lead their lives as per the society not as per their beliefs. Kirk & Okazawa-Rey explain how the concept of the female appearance has created a beauty business that makes profits of billions every year (121-162). In the beauty business, the prescribed look is created and the persons involved are expected to meet the standard of the desired look. It is astonishing how the business also presents the parties in question with a formula on how to attain the good look. Products and methods of slimming have then been designed so as to help the women lose weight in days or even months (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 121-162). It is astonishing how the outcomes of the methods and products designed are not evaluated based on their side effects but on the outcome that will result from its use. In the work of Thompson & Stice, the authors are concerned with the manner in which the young adults have developed eating disorders so as they can lose weight and attain the desired model shape (181). Dieting has become the norm among many women, especially ones that struggle with their general appearance. It is this disordered way of eating that led to many women suffering from health conditions but still insist on dieting. Their overall physical development is affected as they lack the nutrients that are required to keep them in shape. Similarly, Tiggemann explains how many women read magazines and other material so that they can get information on beauty, fitness and even the trending styles (421). It is this obsession with the bod imaged that have resulted to disordered eating among many young women that suffer from weight anxieties especially after have low self-esteem that results from the internalization of being skinny (Tiggeman 423-4). It is also expected that the women that do not attain the desired body sizes as presented in different forms of media will struggle with their identity, have feeling of guilt, low self-esteem and even shame from their look. This aspect explains the gender expectations of the women as per the society’s requirements and not from individual standards and principles. On another viewpoint, Kirk & Okazawa-Rey write on the Commodification and Co-option factor that touches on women and their beauty. The author argue that the body has always been regarded inferior to the mind (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 121-162). In line with thought, many people lead their lives based on their bodily needs. Ultimately, the body is disintegrated into different commodities and pieces that makes the entire concept a puzzle. This explains why many people are on the verge to change their look and even train their bodies to be what they were not from the onset. Comparisons and contrasts are then made on the concept of the body till the required size is defined. Women, in this case, constantly evaluate themselves based on their peers, and other social groupings that they belong to, and then decide on what their look needs to be based on. Lin & Kulik present an interesting perspective on the social comparisons that women make with different individuals that relate to them (115-122). It is these comparisons that create mood disorders especially when the women in context cannot achieve the desired shape especially of the person they have been comparing themselves with in the society. In the event that woman is able to attain a desired body shape just like the one in their comparison, they automatically boost their mood and ego. An analysis of this fact, explains how women suffer from the expectations set by the society. It is surprising how women even go to an extent of setting a desired body shape that they ought to have so as to be termed beautiful. Women and beauty also touches on the issue of class, race and status. As seen in the research conducted by Kirk & Okazawa-Rey, the Whites, the young and the able are termed as more beautiful as opposed to the non-Whites, the old and the persons with disabilities (121-162). This thought explains why a great percentage of Whites are content with the bodies as opposed to their non-White counterparts. Glasser, Robnett & Feliciano support this argument by indicating how internet daters, especially the Whites prefer to go on dates with their fellow Whites as opposed to the non-Whites (14-21). The study continues to explain how the thin, and light skinned women have high chances of getting a date as opposed to the non-White (Glasser, Robnett & Feliciano 16-31). This explains how beauty is based on race, color and the shape of a woman. It is devastating to see how many plus-sized women struggle with their look especially going with the society’s perception that large women are not attractive and have chances of getting a date. It is almost evident that the society is indeed biased, and the women are not spared from this prejudice as far as their look is concerned. In the event that these thoughts are perpetuated by the existing media, does not mean that the plus size women will never get life partners? What is important, the inner beauty, or what is presented in the appearance of a woman? From this argument, one can indicate that attaining beauty for the women is slowly becoming unattainable. The expectations that the women have as described by the media are extremely high and if something is not done, lots of women will suffer major issues that may have an impact on their personality and general well-being. The media being a key source of info and communication in this century, it is extremely difficult to regulate the nature of information that is disseminated to the users (Serdar 1). In the event that pictures are presented the media, on the expected beauty, women suffer a great deal in an attempt to struggle and become the women portrayed in the media. It is no surprise why a great percentage of women in the society today prefer to have their make up on and look flawless at all times. All these factors turn down the gender issue that defines how the society portrays women. Since women are expected to be beautiful so as they can be attractive to the men, it is no doubt that women will keep struggling to satisfy the society’s expectations. In addition, a lot of time will be spent in purchasing material and accessing sites that will present the women with the latest information on the newest styles and fashions (Serdar 1). In this instance, it is anticipated that the women are provided with information that will help them act beyond the perceptions of the society and the manipulated presentation of images in the society. This will redefine the concept of beauty and deconstruct the image expectations by the women. As Kirk & Okazawa-Rey write, the young are considered more beautiful unlike the old (121-162). It is this factor that leads to a great percentage of women to want to remain young by using artificial mechanisms to sustain their look. Many reports show women go for surgeries, implants and even reduction of some of their body parts so that they can remain young. Skin lightening creams have been processed as well as one that remove wrinkles (Gerhart 1). One can tell the obsession that is extent in the society over the way in which one looks like. Some women are actually struggling to maintain their “artificial “look but they will rarely confess to their struggles since they have managed to have the look that is seemingly accepted (Gerhart 1). The promoters, manufactures of these products are profiting a great deal from this development, as it has become extremely easy to capture many women using the beauty campaign. This thought also explains how women suffer in their gendered makeup as the society has already defined how they need to look. It has been left for them to decide how they will survive with the changing times as far as beauty issues are concerned regardless of the outcomes that will emanate from the decisions they make. I doubt if the surgical and other forms of perfection will solve the problem of the women and beauty. This argument also explains how women have been trapped in the notion of beauty. Concepts such as creativity and expressiveness can be linked to modern day beauty. This can be emphasized with the thought on how women go to an extent of powerful aids to upgrade their beauty. Body adjustments are also done in this century all in the quest to move with the trending fashions. In my opinion, I am of the view that the natural endowments are no longer important and considered as beauty. One even questions when technology overtook what was previously beautiful and natural. In the coming centuries, it is almost obvious that in the coming centuries, the issue of beauty will be a clear obsession and that more and more women will suffer the consequences of struggling with beauty (Gerhart 1). Beauty being a gender issue will continually define how men visualize women. The women that will not manage to appreciate their bodies will hate their look and even have low esteem. A perfect body is unachievable and if more concern is put on the body size and all that determines the external beauty, I am of the opinion that the entire concept of beauty will be misunderstood and will ultimately lose its meaning in the coming generations. Body consciousness in terms of size and the perception of beauty should be done to demystify the myths of women’s beauty. Yet another factor that touches on beauty that Kirk & Okazawa-Rey write, touches on the concept of beauty is the issues of disability (121-162). Persons that have been indicated to have issues with their sight, hearing and even body coordination have long been regarded as not being beautiful. This thought explains how beauty has long been linked to the outward appearances of different people and not the values that a person has. Persons that have disabilities in their bodies are simple consequences of actions by other people or were even created in that way. A judgment on such people is extremely unfair since no one would want to be created in that way. In any case, given a chance every person would create themselves how they wish their bodies would look like. In this regard, it is justifiable to argue that an individual’s look does not matter when the question of beauty arises, but rather what they encompass within them. There are many persons that have all the qualities that the society finds beautiful, but their inner self is indeed tarnished. Such a person, therefore, cannot be said to be beautiful in any way. Considering the fact that we can also become disabled in the course of our daily activities, it is only fair that we appreciate every person, what they value, and how they look is a matter of creation. Desirability and non-desirability, therefore, should not be defined by looks but by the values that persons display. In conclusion, it is evident that a great percentage of women suffer as far as their looks are concerned, and will do what they can do attain the look that the society expects them to have. Nonetheless, there is so much that can be done to change perspectives of the ideal body image. For instance, the media needs to reduce the way in which it presents the ideal body images of women. The media can create a camping on the body shape and beauty, and in a way reduce the perception it has on skinny women. Competitions on plus size women can also be launched so as they can also show case their beauty since many women have been impacted negatively by the ideal body image to an extent that so even diet to get to their desired body shapes. I totally disagree with the artificial looks that many women have opted to go for through surgeries, since I believe that the natural look is the best and that women need to appreciate who they are. A campaign on acceptance on body types will indeed make our bodies jewels that need not be altered but accepted as they were created. Being old and disabled is almost inevitable for many people. It is, therefore, recommended that people lead their lives as it comes, and not try to remain young yet they are old. There is no prescribed body image. One’s body is the ideal one, and it is the responsibility of all persons to discredit the society’s perception on beauty. Works Cited Gerhart, Ann. “Nipped in the Bud: More and More Young Women Choose Surgical ‘Perfection.” Washington Post 23 June 1999. Print. Glasser, Carol L., Robnett, Belinda & Feliciano, Cynthia. “Internet Daters’ Body Type Preferences: Race–Ethnic and Gender Differences.” Sex Roles, 61. 1-2 (2009), 14–33. Kirk, Gwyn & Okazawa-Rey, Margo. Womens Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. (6th edition). NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2012. Print. Lin, Lilly. F., & Kulik, James. A. Social comparison and womens body satisfaction. Basic & Applied Social Psychology, 24. 2(2002), 115-123. Serdar, Kasey L. “Female Body Image and the Mass Media: Perspectives on How. Women Internalize the Ideal Body Standard”. Westminster. Westminster College. N.d. 15 Apr. 2015. Thompson, Kevin J. & Stice, Eric. Thin-ideal internalization: Mounting evidence for a new risk factor for body-image disturbance and eating pathology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10.5(2001), 181. Tiggemann, Marika. Media exposure, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: Television and magazines are not the same! European Eating Disorders Review, 11.5(2003), 418-430. Read More