As stated in the article by Robin Henig, “Over the centuries, women have mauled and manipulated just about every body part – lips, eyes, ears, waists, skulls, foreheads, feet… (55). With certain ways women try to build their confidence level for their visual appearance, they go through a great deal of risks; consequently, severe dangers are more likely to occur, also expressed in the article. In this article, Robin Marantz Henig explains and exposes many different forms and ways woman have deliberately made changes to their bodily figures to fit in the standards of perfection in beauty. She clearly isn’t in favor of these practices from her statement in the article, “The crazed quest for beauty at any cost had led to some bizarre practices along the way” (56). Exactly, very bizarre practices that woman go by to feel better about there appearance rather then their health.
Confronted with these images, the reader is encouraged to sympathise with the author’s contention. Many of these unrealistic images are also the driving force behind the increasing demand to see realistic images of young women in the media. Stark’s contention is strengthened by anecdotes from affected girls, attempting to recreate the ‘perfect body’ on themselves, who constantly obsess with these glossy magazines. Including Erin Young’s story of her ‘own struggle with body image’, that almost led to anorexia, plays a big part in encouraging the reader to side with Stark’s opinion. These stories assist the reader in understanding the serious widespread nature of the issue.
“It is not enough to say that women are being sold a lie by advertising, magazines and cinema” (Page 30-31) This is probably the most painfully obvious reason as to why women in today’s society strive themselves on looing like something that horrifically opposite to them. This contributes greatly on their health and lifestyle. Women go through so much effort to change themselves. For example: Botox, facelifts, pretty much anything that to them, they would think ‘enhances’ their appearance. On another note, it is very rarely would you see an Australian woman go to the extreme to idolize a particular celebrity and clone their appearance and lifestyle.
I'm especially critical of the way these problematic relationships between girls are represented in the media." But what is it about the concept that has galvanized people's interest right now? "I think, in part, it's a reflection of social anxiety about girls' success," Gonick tells me. "Girls and boys both endure a lot of pressure in the times we're living in. There are fewer social programs to support kids and the cost of failing is so high.
Young women seem to be especially affected by our culture’s obsession with weight and beauty. America today is a girl-destroying place where young women are encouraged to sacrifice their true selves in exchange for false selves that are more culturally acceptable. “More than any other group in the population, girls and their bodies have borne
5. Using examples from the reading you have done for this course describe and discuss how the social construction of “beauty” or the “beauty myth” affects women who have been diagnosed with cancer. Throughout history a woman's value has been determined in terms of her physical appearance and ability to mirror a socially constructed idea of beauty that continues within western society. As a result, a woman's body image, feelings of sexual attractiveness, and self-esteem has been negatively influenced by society. Due to society’s creation of unrealistic images of what women are supposed to look like, many women who have lost a breast to cancer with experience a decrease in self-esteem and have other negative emotions.
In today’s generation people are a lot more judgmental, therefore many women believe they have imperfections and flaws. With cosmetics, this allows the women to cover up blemishes and acne that they may have, but people who prefer natural beauty could argue this
This undermines their motivation and self-esteem therefore they give up on trying to do well in education and have a fatalistic attitude towards it. Another reason why girls achieve better could be because of the changes in the family. There is now an increase of the number lone-parent female headed families and these changes are affecting girls attitudes towards education. This could be because an increased number of female headed lone-parent families means that
This young girl had suffered from anorexia for years all because of how the media portrays “beautiful women.”. Lang Day is among many who feel the need to lose weight or become skinny.
The media promotes this body type as a goal for women to strive for. Women are not the only ones bombarded with what a body should look like, men are also under pressures to look a certain way. This pressure of perfection affects the mental and physical health of people every day. The media has been attacked for its portrayal of the ideal image. However, there has been some speculation that the media is only following what the public believes to be beautiful.