According to the reading, "Where the Girls Are" written by Susan Douglas, she elaborates by describing schizophrenia, "This is best defined as a mental disorder from a breakdown from various types of emotions. American women today are a bundle of contradictions because much of the media imagery we grew up with was itself filled with mixed messages about women should and should not do." (Douglas, 9) Douglas said it very well because much of what is given such as magazines, movies, and advertisements, young teenagers feel if their favorite role models, they can become just like celebrities. The main problem is, are these young teenagers being someone who they really are not? A good way of saying this is that during the day, with having makeup on, women feel confident about themselves during the daytime as opposed to the morning and returning home in which it is removed.
Kim Kardashian
Eva Longoria
At the end of the day, people do not usually know what celebrities look like without makeup. In that sense, the media creates a lot of headlines when they are seen without it. From Douglas, she states what she wants to be by saying, "I want to look beautiful; I think wanting to look beautiful is about the most dumb-ass goal you could have. That doesn't only happen when I'm reading Vogue; it happens all the time." (Douglas, 9) Also, from "The More You Subtract, The More You Add" written by Jean Kilbourne, she elaborates on recent years that there are pressure on girls regarding their problems involving with food, weight, body, and fashion. Overall, with what women have to go through, KDouglas goes on to say, "because we were so young, and in part of mass media have been obsessed with defining - they have ensured us in an endless struggle for gender-self definition." (Douglas, 17)
From "Beauty and the Beast of Advertising" by Jean Kilbourne, she identifies women in advertisements as sexual victims of potential violence and sex toys. From most cover magazines, there are women modeling in the front and in those poses, what idea does it give the viewer? Most likely a male gaze and potentially a sexual desire for the women on the cover. From a female's perspective, what does that say for them? Dr. Steven Levenkrom says, "If I had my way, every one of them would have to carry a line saying, 'Caution: This model may be hazardous to your health." (Kilbourne, 124) There is a huge risk involved because women have to constantly lose weight, take care of their bodies, make their hair and skin just like the covers. That very well is hazardous to a woman's health. To be attractive is for everyone to take notice of one individual. There isn't any chance there is a single woman would not dress up to impress if they are attending a club or party. They want to be known and to be the center of attention. Overall, that is the main goal.
I recently saw a video on YouTube with young women on the before and after photos and they have a dramatic difference compared to the mainstream celebrities. To see the video with slideshows, click here. Even though there are problems with what women go through on being successful with themselves, there will always be companies out there selling what would make them look better. It doesn't matter who is buying the products as long as the companies are making their money. In the end though, women should know what is best for themselves in the long run, regardless on how anyone thinks of them.
To show an image on a before and after, here is an interesting example I found. It is a bit creepy to me in my opinion. To be honest, I never knew that makeup and eye contacts can dramatically change someone that they aren't at all.
Work Cited:
Kilbourne, Jean, "The More You Subtract, The More You Add," 1999
Kilbourne, Jean, "Beauty and the Beast of Advertising," 1989
Douglas, Susan, "Where the Girls Are," 1994
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