Cosmetic Surgery - Literature review Example

? COSMETIC SURGERY Introduction Technology and gender have a focal place in the history of man. The two have been crucial in marking historical periods from the iron era to the current information era. They shape human life and their relation to the natural world and other living organisms. Recently, women, the largest percentage of human population, have been increasingly conspicuous via their absence in the technology history in the world. Technology and gender issues have inspired some controversial questions concerning gender and use of technology, (Parker, 2010). Various people link technology with computer devices, robots and other advances in science, limiting themselves in defining technology in small terms. Experts agree that technology review as larger than chips and optics will allow people uncover how technological patterns perpetuate social and cultural class stratification. This paper will investigate how the notion of gender shapes technology and investigate different ways in which technology (cosmetic surgery) has influenced lives of women. Discussion The discussion will investigate diverse ways in which bodies of women are structured and deconstructed in modern culture and some moral, social and political outcomes such processes for the women’s well-being, (Negrin, 2008). It will also focus on gender technology (cosmetic surgery), for instance those forms of socio-cultural practices the make the human body gendered. Similarly, the theoretical foundation of this paper is that the aspect of the human body as highly hypothesized and expressed with certain cultural contexts including economic, social, religious and influential political discourses is crucial. Such discourses represent the extensive system of belief or cultural ideologies, and as they function in performances, they establish verbal and non-verbal rules and laws for how both men and women are expected to feel, perceive and act in relation to the environment and other people. Body modification (cosmetic surgery) as a masculinity or femininity identity mark has extensive and ancient cultural origin. A number of ancient practices (such as wearing of the corset and binding of foot), have increasingly been dumped, whereas others (like FMG, tattooing and male circumcision) are persistent, (Davis, 1995). Similarly, new ways of promoting ones manhood and womanhood through diverse aspects of the body are persistently being created. Contemporary medicine and fashion permit practical modification of gender bodies to attain idealized notion of masculinity and femininity. The rate of cosmetic surgery in the modern globe to enhance desirability, attractiveness and appeal of a person to other sex is continually rising. These practices have increasing dominated the mainstream media and popular culture in an attempt to fix the norm of approved ideal feminine and masculine attractiveness and, therefore, reinforce the man-woman polarity. In feminist studies, woman body is perceived as part of scripting of cultural anxiety regarding life, regulation and death and actual human implication. In other words, female’s bodies are increasingly main features and thus, reflect the challenges, panic and the public disunity and socio-cultural aspects in the postmodern era, (Parker & Rhian, 2010). Various issues emerge as a fundamental source of controversy for instance, gender technologies such as cosmetic surgery and inequality experiences that draw a wider gap between male and female body. Cosmetic surgeries are aimed to amend physical abnormalities or promote a normal physical character and, therefore, enhance appearance. Cosmetic surgery, as an extensively wide field, which may provide reconstructive surgery for people with devastating burns or physical damage, can be utilized aesthetic purposes such as smoothening wrinkles, breasts enlargement and reshaping noses. In the past, cosmetic surgery practices were mainly restricted to necessary surgery to ensure patient well-being and health. Such surgical practices included grafting of skin for severe burns, dislodged eye reconstruction, broken jaw and nose repair or rectifying invisible facial birthmark, (Pitts-Taylor, 2007). In the modern world, today, cosmetic surgery technology has become an aesthetic tool -rich and prominent people are opting for electric surgical practices, which were initially considered a taboo. Celebrities and elite spheres would hibernate for several days and emerge after a successful secret cosmetic surgery, appearing younger, beautiful and slimmer. With time, the activity has gained public acceptance globally, and some cultural and media circles widely encourage the procedure. Recently, there is public cosmetic surgery acceptance in that there are media advertisements and TV reality programs about cosmetic surgery. The classification of cosmetic procedures like reconstructive surgery act to strengthen the notion of gender. The constructive and cosmetic labels are placed on surgeries, to define the necessary products for the society. Experts define cosmetics as things or products that interfere with appearance – thought to enhance appearances while constructive means returning to normal or natural condition, (Jeffreys 2005). New forms of surgeries and technologies for pre-existing strategies are constantly developing, and the categorization of these emerging strategies as reconstructive and cosmetics alters both the gendering of surgeries and the societal perception of gender. Cosmetic surgery is mainly linked with feminism in the United State community. It is linked to female gender because various cosmetic surgeries and consumed mostly by females. Being anxious with physical appearance separate from normal purpose is a woman like trait; therefore, women who chose to undergo cosmetic surgery are revolving around their gender responsibilities as feminine - females who apply makeup every morning. A key disparity in surgeries classification that are not to enhance physical performance is that, cosmetic procedures aim at reshaping of natural body structures so as to enhance the self-esteem and appearance of the patient, (Grogan, 2008). Reconstructive surgeries lack gender meaning because they aim at enhancing function rather than appearance. Cosmetic surgeries have a gender connotation and their “cosmetic labels” have an enormous effect on women. Studies reveal that cosmetic surgeries are feminized by the notion that it is normal for females to concern themselves with their appearances as men concern themselves with function. Cosmetic surgeries enable human being express their personalities and gender identities to look increasingly idea. Similarly, women are strongly aware of the solid cultural connection amid the physical appearance and the self. In the daily application of cosmetics, females explain makeup use and cosmetic surgery as a means of expressing their pride, (Fraser, 2003). Scholars suggest that because females are aware of the significance of physical outlook or beauty to feel psychologically secure, they tend to think that cosmetic procedure is crucial to align a woman’s outer self with her inner self. Similarly, desire for self-worth and better feeling about oneself is the main factors that justify cosmetic procedures, in American culture. Past studies revealed that media cultures such as teen magazines and feminist studies present stereotypical gender ideas. For example, most teen magazines and television shows in the United State show most cosmetic surgery practices on White American women and middle class females, who consider the surgery as an expression of femininity. Experts agree that this has extensive affected the current statistic on cosmetic surgery attempts in the world, (Davis, 1995). For example, studies reveal that, in the current world, females experience a storm of media images enhancing typical feminine attractiveness and multiple ways to attain this attractive body through buying of products and fashion services, such as cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is currently the main consumerist source offered by the fashion industry to women to help them attain cultural ideas of beauty and aesthetic. With advance in technology, cosmetic procedure is taking central position as a beauty ailment. High cosmetic procedures utilization in the globe is startling. For instance, statistic reveal that an estimated 10.3m cosmetic procedures were conducted in the US, an 12% acceleration from 2004 results and acceleration of 267% since 1991. This implies that an increasing number of women than men are risking their resources and health in search of a more attractive self, (Parker, 2010). Studies reveal that this increased percentage in cosmetic surgery practices is attributable to media outlets, advances in technology and civic culture pressures on women. In the American context, numerous media outlets surround most people daily. Movies, Films, teen magazines and TV shows not only promote the idealized notion of beauty that affect female’s body image, but also offer remedies to challenges of body image, (Keyes & Jones, 2009). Media outlets that feature model images that characterize American beauty standards showcase the newest makeup, routines of exercise and cosmetic surgeries that modify all beauty challenges. Additionally, cosmetic surgery representations are becoming increasingly dominant and publicly debated in media outlets. Fashion and cosmetic industries are using reality TV shows to display cosmetic surgery processes through eyes of patients and doctors perspectives. Similarly, fictional shows are idealizing cosmetic surgery use. In teen magazines and other magazines, celebrities are interrogated concerning their physical appearances and explain ways of sustaining an attractive physique, through either liposuction or physical activity. As media outlet expose cosmetic surgery decisions to women, it is clear that media influence plays a key role in cosmetic surgery decisions taken by women, (Pfohl, 2006). Similarly, in femininity reconstruction among girls, various studies reveal that most females in their twenties consider cosmetic surgery procedures. This is because teen magazines and media commercials, in United States, depict young girls performing as models and undergoing various faces lift to have a youthful appearance similar to celebrity teenagers. Fashion industry, on the other hand, display feminine and attractive females as slim, smooth faced and beautiful – mostly achieved after cosmetic surgery, (Negrin, 2008). This model mainly utilizes cosmetic surgery to reconstruct femininity and beauty similar to other feminist studies. Feminine studies reveal that most middle-aged women are undergoing cosmetic surgeries to slow aging signs. For some women, the society has reflected to them the characteristic of an ideal woman and femininity traits; therefore, they undergo cosmetic procedures to adhere to their correct gender as defined by the society and mainstream media. Similarly, some European females, trying to construct their femininity, chose to undergo hymenoplasty surgery. According to research, in African, Arab and Muslim traditions chastity is linked with an ideal woman, (Keyes & Jones, 2009). Chastity of a woman increasingly influences how other people view ones womanhood and femininity. Therefore, applying technologies to reconstruct one’s hymen, a woman is utilizing technology to reconstruct her femininity and womanhood ideas. Gender theorist and male activists assert that cosmetic surgeries and techniques empower women because they give them femininity right. Feminists argue that truly, surgical technology is disempowering and marginalizing women because they reinforce women thought to adhere to a marginal feminine norm, (Grogan, 2008). Similarly, by rejecting the sociological suggestions of these technologies, people reject the idea that such societal pressures occurs. This implies that women, by using new technologies, are perpetuating marginalizing femininity forms. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, gender and technology have an enormous impact on increasing trends of cosmetic surgery attempts, connotations and perception across cultures. Although, cosmetic surgery may be beneficial and successful, in most instances, any person interested in the procedure should think of the associated risks because not all surgeries are successful. Similarly, cosmetic surgery, like many other new technologies, may have some aftermath complications such as prolonged healing process, possibilities of secondary infections and pain. While the procedure may be an option to beauty satisfaction, patients should select wise experts and obtain adequate information before the surgery. References Davis, K. (1995). Reshaping the female body: The dilemma of cosmetic surgery. New York: Routledge. Fraser, S. (2003). Cosmetic surgery, gender and culture. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Grogan, S. (2008). Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women, and children. London: Routledge. Heyes, C. J., & Jones, M. (2009). Cosmetic surgery: A feminist primer. Farnham, England: Ashgate Pub. Jeffreys, S. (2005). Beauty and misogyny: Harmful cultural practices in the West. London: Routledge. Negrin, L. (2008). Appearance and identity: Fashioning the body in postmodernity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Parker, R. (2010). Women, doctors and cosmetic surgery: Negotiating the 'normal' body. Basingstoke [England: Palgrave Macmillan. Parker, Dr Rhian. (2010). Women, Doctors and Cosmetic Surgery. Palgrave Macmillan. Pitts-Taylor, V. (2007). Surgery junkies: Wellness and pathology in cosmetic culture. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press. Pfohl, S. J. (2006). Culture, power, and history: Studies in critical sociology. Leiden: Brill. Read More