How Feminism Changed my Views About Women

As I entered a class titled Writing About Women in August, I thought I was going to be taking a class in which I’d be forced to read about Women activists in the past. I thought instead of talking about current issues, I would be focusing more on the past, and what women have already achieved. This was far from what actually happened. Throughout the semester, we studied women and issues that we face in our society today. Although we acknowledged that women have come a long way, we also talk about how far we still have to go in ourder to reach true equality.

My purpose in writing this blog was to show readers that a beautiful woman is not just what the media has convinced us it is. I had to research many topics and found just how harshly women are discriminated against. I was opposed to just about every issue that I came across, and was surprised to see that not all women had the same opinion. I tried to use heavy pathos and logos within my writing in order to allow others to see why I feel so strongly about each of the topics I chose to write about. Also, I added visuals to most of my posts in order to give my readers a more clear vision of what I was trying to encourage them to think about.

I must admit that at first I thought this assignment was pointless and annoying, but in the end I did grow to like it. It not only helped me to become a more informed feminist, but also to grow as a writer. When I first started writing I wanted everyone to agree with my point, and thought that all women would be on my side simply because we were all women and we all wanted what was in my opinion “better” for us. Now as I review my posts I can see that my newer posts are more suggestive of readers to give their own opinion, not necessarily being the same as mine. I do realize that not all women have the same ideas now, but I would encourage them to try to see both sides of the picture and try to find a common ground. I was having a hard time developing a voice in my writing, but now I have found one.

That being said, I must adress my purpose in this blog. I will admit that I am a strong believer that a woman’s size and shape (or any of the other standards the media stresses for that matter) does not determine how beautiful a woman is. This however, is not what all women believe. At the same time, I cannot give a clear definiton of what beauty is. This is because beauty is whatever the individual sees it as. There is no universal standard of beauty. While I will stick to this belief, others will continue to disagree with me and that is fine because it is ultimately about whether or not the individual is satisfied with themselves.

Plastic Surgery: How Young is Too Young?

In a world that has become obsessed with the perfect body, plastic surgery has become a normal procedure to get. The media often teaches that plastic surgery is the best way to overcome any “flaws” that they may have with their bodies. I do not believe that plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons is acceptable however, 51% of Americans do. The question is, if plastic surgery is okay then at what age should one be allowed to get these surgeries.

On April 5, 2011, 7 year-old Samantha Shaw was scheduled to have surgery to pin her ears back (known as ostoplacy) in order to stop bullying. I was shocked to see such a young girl getting cosmetic surgery but even more surprised when I learned that she is not the first child to undergo this surgery. According to statistics done by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of children and teens going under the knife has increased by almost 30% in the past 10 years.

Through the statistics I can already tell that many will oppose the statement I am about to make, but I will not support this behavior. Children should not be allowed to undergo surgery just because they are unhappy with their looks or are being bullied. By allowing these children to get the surgeries, parents are teaching their children to run from their problems. Instead of standing up to the bullies and looking a little different is not a bad thing, they are being taught the best way to solve their problems is to conform. So if I were asked what an appropriate age to recieve plastic surgery is I would say never. If they absolutely feel they must one should at least wait until they are twenty five, because people are usually more comfortable with their bodies by this time. If it were up to you, what age would you say is too young (if any at all)?

The Handmaid’s Tale Tells it All!

One of the required texts for my Writing About Women course is Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale. For those of you who have never heard about this book, it is a distopian novel about a generation of enslaved men and women. Although the novel presents a world very much different than our own, I still believe that there are many aspects that are a lot like our present world.

In the novel, the women are punished for what they say, do, and even look like. This reminds me of the present because we are constantly under pressure to look, act, and be a certain way. The Handmaid’s are not allowed to use any type of beauty products, and the prostitutes are forced to use them. Today in the U.S. we are not being forced to (or not to) use beauty products, however there is a strong social and media pressure to do so. I believe that Atwood purpposely uses the rhetorical decision of creating laws such as this one in the Gileadan Society, in order to reflect on the issues that society faces or has faced in the present or past. For those of you who have not read the book, i strongly suggest it, and for those of you who have, what do you think?

Airbrushed Beauties

In senior writer and editor at NEWSWEEK Jessica Bennett’s article “Picture Perfect” (http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/05/01/picture-perfect.html), she addresses the issue of retouching photos as well as the effects it is having on our society. She strongly opposes to the extreme retouching being done for ads, magazines, and now even everyday life for many reasons, one being that it is making women feel more and more uncomfortable about their natural bodies and at even younger ages.

Although the media does not see a problem with their retouching I agree with Bennett. I believe that the photos they are retouching are making women feel as if something is wrong with their bodies because they never seem to measure up to the women in the media. It is becoming increasingly problematic because technology is making it easy enough for average people to do at home with their personal cameras. It is teaching younger generations that they need to look a certain way that is unrealistic and they are using the cameras to buy into the idea that beauty is a one size fits all category. I think that magazines should use airbrushing and retouching only to clear blemishes and not to make women look unreal. I found all of the research and information that Bennet presented to be very interesting and found that I agree with her views. I think that any women who is struggling with their appearance should read Bennett’s blog.

Same-sex Marriage is No Marriage in the Eyes of Chapman!

Over the years, I have begun to notice the media and social pressure on women  as well as men to be “normal”. Not only does being “normal” consist of one looking a certain way, but also on the lifestyles and actions one chooses.  One of the major lifestyles that is discouraged within this pressure is homosexuality. They make people whose sexual orientation is anything other than heterosexual feel as if they have a problem or are doing something wrong. Although most people think they are not homophobic, they still treat gays different than they treat straights. For example, in many states, California being one of them, same- sex couples are denied the right to get married.

Professor of law and former dean of students at Chapman University John Eastman, was recently appointed to the position of chair of the Board of Directors for the National Organization for Marriage which is known for their opposition of same-sex marriage. Because Eastman’s position at Chapman University was presented in his introduction before he spoke about his views on same-sex marriage, students are worried that they will be mistaken as the school’s stance on same-sex marriage rather than just Eastman’s. The students urged the school to release a statement seperating themselves from Eastman’s standpoint in order to prevent the discouragement of prospective gay students from enrolling. Unfortunately, after taking a vote the University decided not to release a statement.

I believe that Chapman’s decision not to release a statement makes it seem as if they agree with Eastman. Although I do believe that it is okay for one to have their own opinion on such a controversial topic, I believe that it is necessary to seperate those views from the University. Since they claim that they have no specific stance on the subject, they should gladly release a statement to show gay students that they actually care whether or not they attend the University. If they want women and men who are homosexual to feel that they are just as welcomed and important to the Chapman community, then they should not be so reluctant to make a statement. I feel as if they are completely buying into pressuring women and men into being “normal”. If Chapman wants homosexuals to feel normal at Chapman, then they should stop making excuses and make a statement because not making a statement implies that they agree with Eastman.

Make-up in the Work Place

As I was reading other blogs about women on the internet, I came across a few asking about whether or not women should be required to wear make-up in the work place. Certain companies require their female employees to wear make-up in order to “look professional”, or to “uphold the image of the company”. I personally choose not to wear make-up, and would be offended if someone were to try to force me to. I believe that wearing make-up should be a personal choice for women and if it is chosen it should not be in order to make the company look any better. There is nothing wrong with women showing their natural faces.

Sadly a few arguments that i found supporting women being forced to wear make-up were, “Work is about often image and your appearance makes people feel good, Why scare them with an unhealthy washed out face?”, “If you cannot put an effort into your appearance, how can I be sure that you put an effort into your work as well?”, “I know some women who do not wear any at all and you can totally tell…their skin looks so unclear like they havent washed their face in weeks”, and my personal favorite ” I work with several women who don’t wear any makeup what-so-ever….they are ugly. Just saying!!”. Harsh right?

I believe that going all natural does not make peoples faces look washed out and dirty nor does it make them ugly. As for the effort issue, just because one does not wear make-up does not mean that they do not put effort into their appearance. If they were coming to work sloppily dressed or with bad hygiene then I would agree 100% with the argument, but make-up has nothing to do with effort. For example, I choose not to wear make up because I feel that I should be accepted for who I really am. I feel that if someone cannot accept the way I look naturally, then they cannot accept me at all and are not worth my time. This may however, just be my personal bias. What do you guys think about the issue? Should women be forced to wear make-up in the work place? Or is it their own choice?

Pressures in the Modeling Industry

Models are women that are looked up to by young girls. Sadly, for most girls this dream will be one that is very unlikely to come true. Unless a girl is the right body size and type, the modeling industry will either turn them away or make them work even harder to try to live up to the girls who are of the right build. The perfect example of this industry is demonstrated through Tyra Banks’ popular show “America’s Next Top Model”.

On America’s Next Top Model there have been countless occasions when i have heard the judges tell the models that they are not tall enough so they need to make themselves look taller or not to pose a certain way because it makes them look too fat in a certain area. The problem with this is that they are telling the world that beauty is only one size and if you are not that size then you should at least try to make it seem that way. I find this to be extremely offensive. The models on Tyra’s show are already extremely thin, so if the judges believe that the models need to lose a few pounds here and there, then I have to wonder what they think of the rest of the women in the world. Are those who are either average or plus sized not beautiful? What about women who aren’t tall? Are they not beautiful? Of course there is the occasional plus size model or girl who is just not very tall, but on how many occasions do those girls win?

I think that models should come in all sizes and shapes. I know that there have been special seasons for women who were shorter than the average model, as well as many others to encourage winners of different body types, but i do not feel as if these women should have to compete seperately. I may not be a model myself, nor am i experienced in this field, but i still believe that women should be chosen based on their ability to work the runway as well as the camera, not on how well they can hide or make their fat disappear or make themselves seem taller but I don’t know maybe it’s just me. What do you think?

Media Expectations and Feminism

It is no secret that the media tries to convince women that in order to be beautiful one has to be thin. There are tons of commercials and television shows dedicated to weight loss through surgeries, diet pills, diet programs, exercise and much more. This is something that has always made me mad and I wish i could change, but sadly too many women are buying into it. I feel as if this issue is very much related to feminism, because feminism promotes equality for all and the media suggests different. Personally I feel as if the media suggests that women who are not thin are inferior to women who are, and that is why they are always showing these commercials and television shows.

When i questioned other feminists about their view on the subject of media and feminism, they all gave me different answers, but agreed on one main point. It’s unhealthy and unfair to women. One feminist said, “I believe the media should’nt pressure women to be thin, but to be healthy. I don’t think supermodel thin, which is what they are mostly promoting, is the way to go, but being overweight is unhealthy”.  Another feminist pointed out that the supermodels that the media shows us as the perfect body are unreal. She stated, ‘They edit the women’s bodies in the pictures over and over again, so to believe that their is such thing as the “perfect body” is crazy. It’s just completely unrealistic, and unfair to women’. So to all the women out there who are collapsing under the pressures of society to be thin, just remember that your not the only one who feels that way. Feminists support you 100%, and promote the belief that you are just as beutiful as the women that the media tells you to be like, if not even more!

Plus-Size Protester Stands Up to American Apparel

American Apparel recently launched a contest called “The Next BIG Thing”, in which plus-size models were given the chance to win a photo shoot representing American Apparel clothing. Texas college student Nancy Upton, was offended by the tone that the company conveyed many of their mottos. The company described the models that they are in search of as “bootyful” as well as girls who “need a little extra wiggle room”. In response to the company’s discrimination Upton decided to have a friend help take satirical pictures of her eating chicken in a pool, bathing in ranch, pouring chocolate syrup into her mouth as she eats tubs of ice cream and many more. Along with her entry submission, Upton included the statement “Im a size 12 and I just can’t stop eating”. Although she did not expect it, Upton won the popular vote for the contest. The company however, refused to give her the prize she was entitled to.

According to the article “American Apparel Caves to Plus-Size Protester, Flying Her Out to Meeting”, after a series of emails between Upton and and the company’s creative director Iris Alonzo, the company has agreed to fly her out to one of their meetings to discuss what happened with the contest and how they can improve promoting to a “different demographic”. Although Upton still will not be the recipient of the prize, she is not upset. She says that her view of the company is not going to change after one meeting and insists that even if she were offered an ad with the company she would not take it.

This article on foxnews.com has inspired me to stand up for myt beliefs. Nancy Upton is a great role model for women everywhere. American Apparel is known for the discrimination against women who are not thin, and it was time someone stood up to them. I believe that many have learned from Upton’s satirical statement, and am glad that she won the support of the community in the contest’s popular vote.

Role Models Too Sexy?

Have you ever noticed that when you turn on the TV that almost everyone is abnormally thin? In order to be seen in the media, nearly all roles call for women to be thin. Actresses, models, and even singers are all pressured to be thinand then harshly criticized if they are not small enough. Not only is being thin an issue, but also being sexual. Most women who are popular in the media are not only very thin, but also dressed in skimpy or revealing clothing. What type of example is society setting for the next generation? Is this type of clothing and behavior appropriate for children and teens?

When reading a peer blog (http://wp.me/1Rnex), whether media role models are being bad examples or not is questioned. The writer, Kelly O’Malley uses a questioning formatto review the article “Media and Girls” published by the Media Awareness Network. The style of her blog is particularly important because it forces her readers to think about the changes that our society is undergoing. She makes a valid points in suggesting that although women have come a long way, and there are many heroine characters on television, these characters are still objectified. ‘When I think of women heroines, I think of Superwoman or Catwomen of whom are dressed in tight spandex and show cleavage. It makes me question whether these heroines are actually seen as heroines or are seen as “sexual eye-candy” ‘ stated O’Malley.

When reading her comments, as well as her concerns about the messages we are sending to the next generation, I quickly began to form my own opinion. Children everywhere are watching as female celebrities are constantly put down if they gain even a little bit “too much” weight in the wrong areas. They are telling children and teens all over the world that thin and sexy is the only look that works. If the media continues to put out this message then children everywhere will believe that women are not of value if they are not a size 0 with a low cut shirt and large cup size. Instead of telling our youth that appearance is the only way that they can get somewhere in life, we should be teaching them that women have just as much intelligence as men do, and we can be successful even without the thin and sexy appearance.