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Dying To Be Plastic: Society's Lust For Beauty
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Dying To Be Plastic: Society's Lust For Beauty |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA 
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First, let me start off by saying that Brian Madden has started a great discussion in Philosophy 101. It would be great and much needed for anyone who is interested to reply and discuss the important issue. Thank you everyone! Hey, Brian, am I doing a good job being your manager? I would like my 35% now, see a woman never forgets LOL  Brian, has, in a sense, inspired me to write this.~DYING TO BE PLASTIC: SOCIETY'S LUST FOR BEAUTY~ Beauty is ultimately a gift from God. While some have inherited this golden gift, others who are less fortunate spend a lot of time, effort and thousands of dollars each year trying to reach the dream of the perfect Barbie doll look. With every century, women's body images have changed dramatically in the eyes of the media. In the sixteenth century, full, rounded bodies symbolized beauty and grace to adoring men and artists. In the 1950's, the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe was still considered sexy, curves and all, she was a size 12. However, this form of beauty is certainly not true today. Young women used to grow up perfectly happy with their bodies, for the most part. So why not today's young women? Simply put, they fall into the body-image booby trap or better yet, the body-image Barbie trap. As I enviously gaze upon the perfectly molded bodies on the television screen every day, I can't help but wonder what image the TV stars create for insecure women who long to look exactly like them. Their flawless, smooth, peaches n' cream skin, their perfect bodies and their ever-so slightly bouncy, but, beautiful shiny hair help to captivate the hearts of audiences, men and women worldwide. Such glamourized images tend to condition society into believing that celebrities and models are spitting images of what God intended. Which couldn't be further from the truth. But, still, we believe it, trying ot fit into society. After years of agonizing over my imperfections, even I have fallen prey to the media, and the barbie doll image. The truth is, I have never been fat, not according to my weight chart, my doctor, my family, my friends or past boyfriends. However, in a world where being yourself is simply not good enough, it's hard to fully accept yourself, flaws and all. At some point every woman struggles with her body. It's no mystery why; society is constantly bombarded with everyone else's definitions of true beauty. Women get so many mixed signals and images from magazines, men, friends, doctors, actors and models on what their bodies should look like. Be thin, be beautiful, be curvy, be voluptuous, be healthy, be yourself, be sexy, accept your body, have big boobs, but, be perfect. With such conflicting signals, it is difficult to know what to absorb and what to ignore. Advertisers present a powerful deception to a world of envious women who only see perfect bodies and perfect faces. Companies who create products specifically for women, want the vast majority of women to buy their products, of course, by manipulating them. With slogans such as "it's you, only better" for Silhouettes breast enhancers (what I like to call plastic boobs in a box); "Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline" for cosmetics and "age-defyers" for Oil Of Olay products. All these slogans may seem harmless, but are very deadly messages and appeal to women worldwide, willing to sell their souls to become perfect or gorgeous to fit the mold that society creates. Such companies want to send the message that being beautiful is due to their products alone, that you are somehow ugly without their products, that it is their products that enchances your beauty the best, or so they want you to believe. These so-called miracle products are used to deceive women into believing that they can instantly become glamourous and attractive if they spend thousands of dollars each year on cosmetics, designer clothes, spiked heels, breast enchancers and hair products. Advertisers send envious buyers into a trance to become flawless, that the unqiue beauty they already posses simply won't do, it must be changed. Indeed, advertisers use very clever, but, deceptive techniques to entice women into sacrificing their dreams, their goals and their intelligence for the "key to superhuman beauty." Remember, most models, actresses and TV stars that you see are no longer seperate and unique individuals, but masks. Their faces become a mask, a mask to hide the flaws and blemishes that heaven forbid, anyone might see! It is clear that advertisers take your self away and then in turn, sell it right back to you. After all, what do you have to lose? Perhaps your natural beauty, your self-esteem, your uniqueness and thousands of dollars each year. The media has certainly created stereotypes and double standards in ads, in magazines, in commercials, on television and in the movies. The most prominent double standard for men and women is aging. The message is that women must be beautiful and glamourous like barbie...for life - which is impossible, but, still the media places this ideal on women. Women are taught, that as soon as they age or develop flaws, she is in some sense scorned by society. On the other hand, it is perfectly normal for men to age. The aging man is considered to be dignified and his wrinkles merely show signs of expression and wisdom. Yet, a woman who has just one grey hair and a few lines is considered an unattractive walking corpse. Afterall, have you ever heard of Barbie having grey hair, wrinkles or cellulite? Big, big, big...but at what cost? Regardless of the serious health risks,more and more women in North America are getting breast implants. What truly drives a woman to get breast implants? Is it that she is uncomfortable with herself, or that society is uncomfortable with her? In a society where for over 42 years, the Barbie doll has been seen as having the ideal womanly shape, it is certainly not surprising that some women want breast enlargements. With a dream body, a dream house, a dream car and a dream date, Barbie already has most things any young woman would want. Who wouldn't want to be like the ever-smiling plastic princess? Take Claudia Schiffer and Pamela Anderson Lee for instance: the living Barbie dolls. Claudia Schiffer is a supermodel with measurements close to that of Barbie: 33-18-28, which is an unrealistic and dangerous body measurement. Then there's Pamela Anderson Lee, who is infamous for enlarging her breasts to get a spot on Baywatch, also known as Boobwatch. As a matter of fact, most of the female stars in the history of the long-time television program have of course, had breast implants, just for men's pleasures. Pamela Anderson Lee had molded her body into what many women would die for: the perfect barbie doll look, with big, blonde hair, oversized breasts, and an anorexic-looking waist. This ideal is perfect for a toy made of plastic, but, sorry, Pamela dear, not for a human being. Living up to the Barbie image in some ways, though they are, did you ever notice that the majority of runway models don't smile? Since when is that attractive? And worse, since when is being a twing attractive? Models have taken the Barbie image too far, exceeding it in ridiculous measures, by starving themselves to have no womanly shape at all. Afterall, have you ever seen supermodel kate Moss, runway twig extraordinare, eat a Big Mac, or anything at all for that matter? For God's sake, someone had better soon feed this girl some fries and supersize it or she may blow away in the wind. Actually, that would be funny, I'd like to see that happen to teach that girl a lesson. Yet, some men still find this ideal appealing and expect the same of average perfectly healthy women. Moving from childhood to adolescence and into adulthood, young women can undergo a series of crises regarding their sexuality and attractiveness. Such images of paper thin models, perfects faces, perfect bodies and pefect features can unfortunately make young teenage girls feel confused, powerless and negative about their bodies. It is no surprise why anorexia dn bulimia nervosa are prominent diseases amoung young women. Even I have suffered from such diseases just to fit in, which only left me feeling more ugly and unwanted. Unquestionably, the media sends a clear message that to be loved, women worldwide must be beautiful, thin and perfect at any cost, regardless of the consequences. And, many women have died from eating disorders. A sad truth. Women and men need to be aware of the truth behind what they see in magazines, on billboard signs on TV and in movies. Try to remember that the "flawless" model you see on the glossy pages of a magazine, or the actress that you see in a movies, don't get their perfect look in twenty minutes. Realistically, it is more like four hours of hair and makeup done by a professional, with clothes that have been perfectly co-ordinated by a stylist, with calculated lighting angles and with laser-computer enchancements and air brushing techniques (bye bye flaws). Sharon Stone once said that "I've never thought of myself as a great beauty, just a great magician." In other words, much of what people see is not real, nor a realistic image to aspire to. Ask yourself this: How many women do you know who have flat-as-a-sidewalk stomachs, NBA player height, protruding cheebones, perfect huge breasts and barely-there hips? Women and MEN must remember that the average model is 5'9-5'11, and wears a size three, but, the average woman is 5'3-5'5 and wears a size nine-twelve. Wanting to look good and reasonably thin is a sensible goal. However, wanting to look like a fashion model is not. Models are usually very young, diet too strenuously, and still need to have the right genes to achieve the perfect Barbie doll look. And that look is neither normal or healthy for the great majority of women. As cliche as it sounds, true beauty should not always be focused on what's on the outside, rather than what's on the inside. Of course, this is easier said than done considering we live in a world swarming with Barbie dolls and stereotypes of the perfect woman. Simply knowing about the Barbie trap and the effect it can have on women of all ages can lessen the impact, but, it still doesn't make it go away, unfortunately. Remember, you face, your body, your mind and your soul aren't made of plastic. Being a real person is so much better than being an ideal. I guess it's not a doll's world afterall. Sorry Barbie. Nah, nah, nah, nah, talk to the hand blondie! *By Melissa Honeybee* [This message has been edited by Melissa Honeybee (edited 06-19-2000).] |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Amen. This is the truth here. I don't recall the exact numbers, but I did post them a long time ago in another thread somehwere. It said that something like 45% of the women in the United States have had plastic surgery in one form or another. And somehwere around 30% of that 45% were under the age of 18. It is amazing the mixed signals we send out in the name of the almighty dollar. You did a great job of presenting this in a logical (and mostly detached, LOL) manner. Oh, and I loved how you neener'd Barbie!  Chris |
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brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
I used this quote as a my signature and I think I should it use it again. "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." E. E. Cummings I think Melissa that you have covered all of the aspects here and makes a clear and intelligent arguement. vanity is one of those things. It can become an addiction. As a man the same pressured don't apply and I pretty much live my life as I want to. I have rarely (I can't say never because I probably had one or two lapses) betrayed myself to please other people. But the same time I, as everyone else, have the basic need to fit in. I remember being verbally bullied by a teacher about being quiet and fat when I was 6 or 7. I was overweight but she made me real self conscience about it and at one period I did not want to eat. It took a few years to shed those pounds. And me reaching a weight I was happy with somewhat coincided with me accepting who I was and being proud of myself for the first time in years. In the same way society bombards us, women especially with these images. And yes us men fall for it, we have our weaknesses and women are one of them. Though I find something bland almost with the typical blond Pam Anderson. The question is, Is this supply for demand? Do we really want to torture ourselves with these sterile images. I mean if we did not seek some enjoyment or did not respond to this then these images, these ideals would not exist. So I want everyone to burn their Brittney Spears CDS and their supermodel calenders.lol. Anyway back to your essay Melissa, well said and much enjoyed. wonderfully written as were your comments in Philsophy 101. ------------------------ "WE IRISH ARE TOO POETIC TO BE POETS, WE ARE A NATION OF BRILLIANT FAILURES." Oscar Wilde. [This message has been edited by brian madden (edited 06-19-2000).] |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very informative and interesting views. By the way Pamela Lee had her breast implants removed in April of 1999. She has returned to a natural state. I admire her for that...and I believe the fantasy had worn off and she became tired of being a barbie doll. Someone very close to me had tummy tuck and breast lift and all of those things and she passed away about a year later and I think all that surgery contributed. Another woman I know had liposuction on her tummy, her legs, and saline implants in her breasts. She told me her family was always small on top and she wanted to be big. She had me take a picture of the new her so she could send pictures to all her family members and say "look at me"...am I not wonderful. I think they look like two big blown up balloons...ready to explode. Victims of this lust for beauty...perhaps...James |
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Michele Antoinette New Member
since 2000-06-24
Posts 5 |
Hi Melissa Yes you've hit the nail on the head - even I as a woman who has always been healthy, whose body has delivered and breast-fed perfect healthy babies over the years have been pressured by my husband to have breast implants ( which I resisted, and he is no longer my husband, by the way)but recently I have had thoughts of turning to the knife to improve my middle-years looks. It is a concern that perfectly healthy people are thinking their bodies are not good enough anymore. Who is responsible for creating the social values of our time? The media has to take responsibility for the main part. Where can women celebrate their female form and femininity as it really is? Men celebrate theirs openly on the sports field and in many other forms and are adulated. Women have the forum of beauty pageants, however who decrees the standards of beauty there? I have been to an all female bath house and was astonished and humbled by the beauty and the variety of shape of the female figure both young and mature. I believe that in our Western culture there are no places where women can celebrate their femaleness and it is only through other cultures that we have the chance to do so. I think that the only true place that a woman can celebrate her feminine form is with Armenian (and other cultures) BELLY DANCE, where the curves and fullness are really appreciated, the dress is of a type which reveals and subtly covers various parts of the body and allows for every woman to express herself in her own particular personality as well as her physical form. THANKS FOR YOUR INTERESTING ARTICLE! |
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Silkdragon Member
since 2000-06-24
Posts 65 |
Well, Melissa, I'd like to say good work and keep it up. Society needs to wake up and come out of the ridiculous dream world it's been living in. You're very right in saying how sterile and monotonous the fashion industry has become; everyone looks alike. Maybe it's time we accepted a healthy body as beautiful instead of trying to aspire to rediculous, dangerous, and unattainable goals. It's really easy to fall into the trap created by the media and society in general, though. I just hope all women... and men... can accept themselves for who they are and not try to be anybody else. I enjoyed this post very much, and i'll look for more of your work.  Erin |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Thank you so much everyone! This is a very important issue to me. Take care, Melissa Honeybee |
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