The Beauty Myth

I think today’s discussion in class showed the real struggle that many normal women feel each day regarding the pressure to stay thin. You could almost feel the tension in the air when the issue of weight and beauty were tied together. But I almost want to take the side of the devils advocate and say that women don’t necessarily have to read into these magazines or stereotypes, and find a way to feel comfortable in their own skin. If a person really has a problem with their physical form, they can always go to the gym or cut back on food portions; but I’m not saying that this isn’t hard. Personally, when I see the ads for Victoria Secret or a commercial that shows a beautiful woman, I equate the stereotypical beauty with a certain power that this woman has over men or her colleagues. Women are stuck in a certain dress form in the workplace or in politics because if they did show a little skin, they will put men in a certain “trance” and not necessarily be taken seriously. You could almost tie this into “the male gaze” that we discussed a few weeks ago. I feel that this shows a major weakness in the male stereotype and that a beautiful woman does have power. Whether or not the woman is comfortable in her own skin is a person thing, but all women should take personal pride in their physical form and in the act of staying healthy for their own mentality. I think it is this power that beautiful women posses because of their looks that many average women want to attain. I also completely agree with Citizen Z’s perspective on the Beauty Myth and Porn Myth.