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Originally Posted by analog
I think it's funny that people want to blame the media. While they definitely contribute, I think I know the real culprit. Here's something I haven't seen brought up yet:
How much more than the media, do you think women subject each other to harsh judgment that causes these terrible body image issues?
The bottom line is, no matter how hot you may be, there's some jealous bitch who will look at you and say, "your eyes are too close together" or "I guess you don't mind that flab on your side" or "I wish I could eat what I want and not care what I look like".
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I've never heard that said from one to another-as a gossipy aside, yes-everyone does it. It's a natural act to compare oneself and one's possessions to another. Some are catty about it. That's not media. That's just being a bitch.
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Originally Posted by analog
Yeah. You all know it's the truth- so how much do you really think the media effects "everyone"... and how much of it is the media mostly getting right to the most shallow, self-absorbed women out there who then form themselves into what the media portrays, and then guilt all the other women into conforming and trying to keep up with them?
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Media-advertising mostly, does cater to the shallow, the insecure. Strip away the poetry and you're basically hearing and seeing, 'Look, Lady. You're gonna get old and if you don't buy our product and wear our clothes, you will end up looking like your grandmother.'
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Originally Posted by analog
The number of times I've seen a woman make a comment about another woman on an advertisement pales in comparison to the number of times I've heard women make nasty little comments to each other about how much better looking they are because they do x, y, and z... meanwhile, they weigh 62 pounds soaking wet and are a walking skeletal structure anatomy lesson.
So think about it... how much is the media micromanaging body image... and how much of it is really just hitting those shallow women who respond to all external ideals of beauty because they have no concept of self-respect, and who then pass on all their baggage about looking "a certain way" onto others?
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As I mentioned earlier, the concept of a beautiful woman 100 years ago was one commonly called 'Rubenesque'-full hips and thighs, small waist, large bust.
Where was that image made? Art, media of its day. Then look at the 'beauties' of each of the past few decades on media and locate old pictures of your mom or grandmother. I think it fair to say our parents did not influence advertising;advertising influenced them.
It's not a matter of lacking self-respect that gets people to fall for the hype, it's fear. Fear that if they don't acquiesce to some degree, the implied negative results will arise. I know many who have plenty of self-respect; they also have plenty of money invested in beauty products. I see nothing wrong in wanting to improve on one's appearance, but doing it because XYZ says it will make one's life better or doing it to appease the catty ones is where the lack of self-respect comes to play. It should be done because one has enough self-respect to put their 'best face' forward and no other reason.