For a few days the subject of women and how they are judged on their looks and the various implications that can cause in a woman's life has been coming at me from different places.
For instance one of the things that gave me pause for thought was when the question was posed as to whether a woman would have a diamond bracelet or plastic surgery given to them,
what would be her answer. This question seemed rather limited in choices given to women.
I mean I wouldn't be interested in either..... but if I was given the choice, I would choose the
bracelet and then sell it and give the money to an animal rescue shelter. Let it do some good in
this screwed up world. There have been incidents where women are so concerned about how they look that they will do anything to change their appearance in order to fit into what they think society deems as being 'beautiful.' For instance if they cannot afford plastic surgery to
create the supposed image of beauty and erase the signs of age, they will go extreme length to
substitute something that is cheaper. I have heard of a case where a woman ordered from an online source, and injected herself with it causing horrific effects and she then had to multiple plastic surgery procedures in order to try and look 'normal' again. And then there was another case where a woman who couldn't afford to buy silicone used to injections of cooking oil on her face to plump up her sagging skin... let's don't even try to imagine how that must have looked. Here is a link to a news story about another beauty makeover...
"Today we are surrounded by still pictures of women, models who pose on every corner, every passing bus, every magazine cover." This is quote from an essay in Patricia Monaghan's
"The Goddess Companion", page 23... She is pointing out in her essay that women are often
viewed as artificial object of beauty in order to be considered worthwhile. We don't look on these pictures of these women as being actual living breathing women with stories of their
own to tell. Is what is beauty is about? "This is the vision of beauty we are offered now. ...women's beauty is as various as the seasons, as changeful as the skies, as complex as a snake's brilliant markings. " (more from same Monghan's essay)...
But there seem to be some changes blowing in the wind regarding how women are being manipulated in to following the dictates of beauty standards that are impossible for everyone of them to follow. In an AlterNet news letter this morning there is an article about how fashion magazine are losing reader left and right... The article titled: "I'm Pretty, You're Ugly, Buy This" - Why Fashion Magazines are on the decline. "Fashion glossies are about making their readers feel bad. Are women tired of their prettier than thou bullying?" This is the subtitle of the article.
There is a link in case you would like to check out this article further.
Another thing is signature line that someone forwarded on to me the other day:
"What ever you give a woman, she will make it greater. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she will give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit."
And with that parting shot I close this posting.
1 comment:
The photos we see in magazines are all enhanced and are not true reflections of reality but the women who buy the magazines still manage to convince themselves that what they see is what's supposed to be and it's really sad. Even I, someone who knows this and who has worked in the industry, am not immune to this kind of advertising. I have to reaffirm on a daily basis that true beauty lies within and shines through the way we act, the way we treat others, and the good we do in this world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiYCWdzm404
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