Media Illustration: Attractiveness & the Races

From reading DeFrancisco & Palczewski it is clear that "beauty", just like "race" and "gender", has no definition until society gives it a definition. There is nothing concrete about beauty as noted in the following quotes from chapter 4:
- "...cultural norms defining bodily beauty tend to have narrow, shifting boundaries that make them virtually unattainable..." (p. 97)
- "Cultural ideals of beauty are difficult for all persons to attain because the norms are unrealistic." (p. 97)
- "...beauty is anything but natural and unchanging." (p. 98)

From those few lines we see that the idea of beauty is just that, an idea. Our societies create it as yet another way to measure men and women. However, women are more susceptible to this scrutiny because, as DeFrancisco & Palczewski stated, "Cultural norms demand that women adorn themselves to be sexually attractive to men" (p. 97).

With the knowledge that America is known as "The World's Melting Pot", also comes the knowledge that there are many other races and ethnicities present in the United States. Now, keeping that in mind raises the question of: If we're used to seeing a White, thin, tall model on most of our beauty advertisements, how are those who do not possess those qualities going to view themselves?

This video shows how women, specifically African American women, have not only grown up being compared to the White standard of "beauty", but have also critiqued and hated themselves for not being "beautiful". I think this is a problem because there is only a very, minute part of the population that actually fits what the media and society say is "beautiful" (only 5%, according to DeFrancisco & Palczewski, p. 98). These women who are trying to become perfect and beautiful are being hurt and hurting themselves to try and fit the standard, and that is not OK.


Discussion Questions
1. When you first think of the word "beautiful" does an African American person come to mind? Does a disabled person come to mind? Do you/your mom/your sister come to mind?
2. Why do you think that we have come to have one norm of what beauty is?

"If one examines women's magazines, self-help literature, and the beauty industry in countries like Japan and India, it becomes clear how White Western notions of beauty are sold to women who are unable to (and should not be induced to) attain those beauty standards." (p. 99)

3.Why do you think that this idea has travelled around the World?

References

DeFrancisco, V. P., & Palczewski, C. H. (2007). Communicating gender diversity: A critical 

approach. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.