It is unfortunate that the media is
much more focused on outer image than on inner character. Many advertisements
are about looking better rather than actually becoming better. Some examples
are fashionable clothing, weight loss “secrets”, and beauty products such as a
make-up. While the advertisements have the clear purpose of selling units, the
ethics behind this push for sales leave much to be desired. The entire industry
is about creating a beauty standard and pressuring everyone to conform to it.
Often, when regarding body shape, these expectations are deliberately unrealistic.
It doesn’t help that Photoshop is often used to exaggerate desired qualities
and make the beauty standard even more difficult to achieve.
To a degree both genders are
pressured by the ideal beauty standard. Men are expected to be large and
muscular while women are expected to have an hourglass type of body. Therefore,
people of both genders can be pressured by weight loss products when their body
size is larger than the ideal presented in the media. However, in general,
women are faced with more pressure regarding physical appearance. While men are
not supposed to wear make-up, women are expected to. And while men might face
some pressure to buy a certain type of attire on occasion, women tend to be
judged on their attire much more.
Ultimately, I wish that there weren’t
an ideal beauty standard. I wish that the media could accept a greater variety
of appearances. While I recognize that conforming to the beauty standard can
sometimes have health benefits, such as the pressure for men and women to
become physically fit, the ideal standard for women especially is often
damaging. Many models are enhanced by Photoshop but are presented as looking
that way naturally. This pressures some women to lose more weight than is
healthy and that can lead to eating disorders in extreme cases. Even outside of
the extreme cases, it still perpetuates unnecessary insecurity in so many
people, all for the purpose of selling products. Is the money for these
advertising agencies really worth this unnecessary conformity?
Changing a social norm is possible. It starts with a few people witnessing against it, and takes a long time. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
ReplyDeleteSo consider the unhealthy ways that women are pressured to conform -- things like: weight loss, makeup, shaving armpits, dilapidation of leg and pubic hair, wearing high heels. If you are a woman, are you willing to forgo them to make a statement? If you are a man, are you willing to encourage women to forgo them?
I agree completely that advertisement agencies push these standards on women to an unhealthy extent. But I think it is important to keep in mind that not every girl hates wearing make-up and wearing high heels. Sometimes it is just personal preference to wear make-up and high heels. I do wish that it could just be a situation where it doesn't matter what we wear. I wish that these ridiculous weight standards did not exist. I think that most companies don't really care what outcome they get, as long as they get the money. Which is sad, but true. They are thinking selfishly and don't care that some little girl is starting to starve herself because she doesn't fit with their standards of beauty. This is a hard battle because not everyone would be willing to fight it.
ReplyDeletePlease explain further about how slathering chemicals on your face and wearing shoes that constrict your feet, greatly increase the risk of falling, and harm your hamstrings and other muscles is a "personal preference". As opposed to an attempt to attract the male gaze...
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