The Beauty Myth article played along the similar lines of the other feminism articles that we have been reading. Society places constraints upon women by creating that image of the "perfect woman" who must be beautiful. Instead of women knitting and cooking all the time, now it's face painting and hair brushing that occupies their time.
While this concept is true, I am not sure that it can ever be totally erased- society always has a "norm" that we all try to attain. Although I agree that women are overly dehumanized and beautified, variations of the "beauty myth" can apply to all ages, genders, and people. Of course, not everyone has to be beautiful, as women are expected to be, but society has a place where a perfect person should be. Men usually are expected to be strong, tall, macho, and whatever. On television they are often shown to watch the sport games and drink beer... Just as women are expected to look pretty and be successful- for some reason, the two are connected. Children are supposed to be polite and calm, yet active and healthy- any child who dislikes socializing will automatically be looked down upon. What I'm trying to say is that society tries and labels every person within the community- not just women.
Despite these facts, I have to agree that the "beauty myth" is stronger among women. The author keeps relating the war for women earlier to now, and how we (us females) shouldn't lay down our weapons just yet. I have to agree. There is still much to be done to equalize women- not just in action, but mentally. Often times people, both men and women, see and perceive women in a certain way- the idea of that "perfect women" has not quite changed yet, and the media and other corporations are not helping any. At the end of the article, however, the author brings up an important point- that women have to start to change. For that idea of what women should be is all in our heads- if we women stop caring about our looks, so will everyone else. The image of a woman is being carried on through our minds and how we see women. If all of us stop dressing ourselves up and spending hours in front of a mirror, the media will stop portraying women in a certain light- because we won't care so much, and therefore not buy so much. Us women, if we change our ideas, can continue the fight against inequality.
The fight that happened before, winning equal jobs and voting rights, still exists now, but must be fought in a different manner. There is no physical wrong, but a mental one- and so, if we are to overcome this problem, we can fight mentally.
And this is where the idea connects to The Handmaiden's Tale. I think we can take the author's concept in The Beauty Myth, about women taking up the fight again, and connect it to the women in the novel. For one thing, many women have stopped fighting, because they have already fought one battle, and won- and have fallen into a false victory, thinking that their fight was over. Like the real world, their problem was not solved. While women stopped being in pornography magazines and clothing became not so revealing, among many other crimes ended, women are now being put into a different, yet equally oppressive society in the novel. If women stop accepting the society they are in and limitations they have, all of them, then they could pose a successful threat against their societal limitations. Much like in the article, men have given new and old things to the women to keep them busy, doing menial labor. Serena makes millions of those scarves for those outside of the community- whom the protagonist does not even know if they exist. The main character herself does not know what to do with free time- if she has it, she is uncomfortable and unused to the idea. Always these women have duties to keep them busy- duties that aren't so important in the first place. Serena's scarves are most likely not needed, nor the protagonist's physical exercises, to keep her healthy and fertile. The women may be oppressed and unhappy, but before they fight back they have to realize that first.
Like you said, society labels each group of people, women, men, and children. This labeling of people even extends to other races and ethnicities such as asians, blacks, and latinos.
ReplyDeleteThe major difference, in my opinion,in"beauty myth” between men and women is that while men are allowed for flaws, women aren’t. If men are ugly or fat, they can be compensated by intellects, sense of humor, or character. However, even if women have all of these qualities, if they are ugly and or fat, they will never be on the spotlight. When you say that women must stop caring about their appearances and stop spending so much time in front of their mirrors, do you think that it is possible while this perception of beauty has stayed in our mind for so long? Your solution requires an extremely cohesive unity among women. But sadly, women hate each other. In high school, girls criticize each other of how they look head to toe and tear each other apart. With this kind of attitude, will they even be able to fight their common, bigger enemy?
Like all things, it will take time. Currently, girls are often mean- even as adults there is sometimes an unfriendliness between women: but I believe that destroying the beauty myth can be done. It will be slow- but as each generation is born, and each generation is taught by their parents and friends, image will not become important. Kids will learn lessons from parents and teachers, and already it is considered rude and mean to criticize and hurt others. I think it can be done- in fact, I think we all have to be optimistic and believe- for otherwise, what kind of world would be nice to live in where people are judged on their physical attributes?
ReplyDeleteAlthough it can be done, I know it will be slow. For some reason, many people are happy when others are considered less "perfect" than they are: they find comfort in the fact that they are better than others. I think this is what is responsible for some of this criticism of women. Of course, this is wrong. People should not compare themselves to others, and see what is wrong with others, but look at themselves and see what is good inside. What else could be responsible for the continuation of the beauty myth? If you ask any girl I'm sure she will most likely say that character is more important than her looks- but then why does "perfection" still exist?
i thought it was really interesting how you mentioned that there are standards for everyone not just women, ithink thats really important to take into account. while i agree partly with julies comment about how men can have flaws they have had more focus on thier bodies than before. if you look back on the fifties women were more volumptous, being thin wasnt as big an issue and men were of average size not overly bulky. but now a days women strive to me super skinny, women want to be smaller less physically threatening, and men want to be buffer and bigger, looking more threatening.It could arguably be something to counteract feminism.
ReplyDeleteBut Back to your post i disaggree that beauty can be eradicated. you can see in handmaids tale it still exhists illegally in the club and in smaller ways like offreds vegetable oil face cream. but if for some reason women conquer this beauty standard will women be oppressed in a new way? it happened in handmaids tale they go from being objects of sexual pleasure to objects for growing children, and attwood suggests a sex object is better. there doesnt seem to be away for women to be valued for as who they are.
I don't think Gilead is an effective example to compare to the world today. Although it does bring to light the oppression women are under in the real world, it is on a much smaller scale, and not taking into account all of the different cultures, ideas, or even world-wide knowledge. In "The Handmaid's Tale", the society is based on men and religion. With all the different men and religion in the world, I cannot believe that our society will be come much alike to Gilead. To some extent, there is a possibility, but Atwood exaggerates and emphasizes the important points. The future is where we move forward: I think that women will continue to grow more equal in everyone's eyes. Women are perhaps more materialistic and focused on their bodies because of their success in becoming equal- the availability of jobs among other things has increased the competition, and many women try to gain the advantage in as many ways as possible- like Offred's butter-face cream. However, as we grow used to this change, I think things will settle down. Already many girls are not as obsessed with make-up and all that stuff as they were before. Or so I think... But reading many other blogs, people do not read those teen magazines as often, and I don't think I see much of that glitter eye-stuff on people's eyelids. Of course, I am no expert, but I think women will continue to become more equal. I think it is interesting you (Elizabeth) speak of what women want to become as "less physically threatening"- I think it is the other way around. We often read about a woman's jealousy, and the competition to look the prettiest- thus beauty pageants and the like.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'm not saying that there will eventually be no oppression or criticism. It is part of human nature. We insist on putting others down to make ourselves look better. I think it has something to do with our egos. But changes will occur, and who and how people are oppressed will change. There are always minorities, different ideas, and rebellions. I think this is part of the beauty of humanity- we are all different. I just think we need to learn how to accept these differences instead of crushing them into dust.
gilead it self might not be something to compare to today but its commenting on todays society so it should still be considered. im not sure what you meant by offreds face cream as a way for her to get an advantage, it seemed like she just had dry skin. what i meant by less physically threatning, was less physically threatening to men not women. when i women is smaller skinnier she looks more vulnerable weaker to men. part of this i think is to counteract feminism but i could also just be obesity concerns etc. i disagree that the future is always moving forward, becuase you have conservatives and reactionaries involved with every issue who try to counteract this forward motion. what is forward exactly? is it inevitable that we will move forward just because time moves forward?
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