In society, white features are considered to be more desirable than those of other races. A smaller nose, long and soft hair, and skin that is not too dark are all traits of beauty in main stream America. An example of where one can see America's idea of beauty (or in this case sexy) is Maxim's Hot 100 List. Maxim is a popular men’s magazine that features articles about beer, sports, cars, and, most importantly, women. Men read these magazines daily to see what is popular within the man culture at that time. Every year, Maxim puts out a list of 100 famous women (actresses, models, athletes, public figures, etc) and lists them in accordance as to "how hot they are." The list of 100 women features those mostly of a white, or an American/European heritage. Those on the list that are minorities, for the most part, usually have characteristics of white women. Being that many men get their idea of what is sexy and hot from this magazine, and being that what many women want is to be seen as hot and sexy by a man, it is easy to see why one who does not have the traits of a white women, would be insecure about her looks. Maybe it is time for Maxim to add more types of ideas and images of "hot" on their list or, better yet, not have a list that judges women based on their looks at all.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
If It's White It's Alright
I am a Caucasian female, however I always get mistaken as being Hispanic or middle eastern. Both of my sisters have pale skin and blue eyes and when our friends in the neighborhood would tease me for being "the milk man's child" it used to really upset me. During my high school years, I would always feel the need to prove my whiteness to others around me by only listening to only rock music or insisting that my political views were that of a Republican. Silly yes, but I always wondered why it bothered me so much that others did not believe that I was white. I knew who I was, yet I let the cruelness of others affect my thoughts and feelings for many years of my life. I was not until last week in class where I learned where these feelings were coming from; society's notion that being white is more beautiful than being dark.
In society, white features are considered to be more desirable than those of other races. A smaller nose, long and soft hair, and skin that is not too dark are all traits of beauty in main stream America. An example of where one can see America's idea of beauty (or in this case sexy) is Maxim's Hot 100 List. Maxim is a popular men’s magazine that features articles about beer, sports, cars, and, most importantly, women. Men read these magazines daily to see what is popular within the man culture at that time. Every year, Maxim puts out a list of 100 famous women (actresses, models, athletes, public figures, etc) and lists them in accordance as to "how hot they are." The list of 100 women features those mostly of a white, or an American/European heritage. Those on the list that are minorities, for the most part, usually have characteristics of white women. Being that many men get their idea of what is sexy and hot from this magazine, and being that what many women want is to be seen as hot and sexy by a man, it is easy to see why one who does not have the traits of a white women, would be insecure about her looks. Maybe it is time for Maxim to add more types of ideas and images of "hot" on their list or, better yet, not have a list that judges women based on their looks at all.
In society, white features are considered to be more desirable than those of other races. A smaller nose, long and soft hair, and skin that is not too dark are all traits of beauty in main stream America. An example of where one can see America's idea of beauty (or in this case sexy) is Maxim's Hot 100 List. Maxim is a popular men’s magazine that features articles about beer, sports, cars, and, most importantly, women. Men read these magazines daily to see what is popular within the man culture at that time. Every year, Maxim puts out a list of 100 famous women (actresses, models, athletes, public figures, etc) and lists them in accordance as to "how hot they are." The list of 100 women features those mostly of a white, or an American/European heritage. Those on the list that are minorities, for the most part, usually have characteristics of white women. Being that many men get their idea of what is sexy and hot from this magazine, and being that what many women want is to be seen as hot and sexy by a man, it is easy to see why one who does not have the traits of a white women, would be insecure about her looks. Maybe it is time for Maxim to add more types of ideas and images of "hot" on their list or, better yet, not have a list that judges women based on their looks at all.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Plastic Surgery; You Take The Good With The Bad
With everything in life something can be both and bad. Sweets taste good, but they can also cause one to gain weight. Technology has made it possible for people all over the world to connect with one another, yet it is also making some more secluded than ever. Plastic surgery is another example of something that is both good and bad. On one hand plastic surgery can be used to fix defects people are born with or insecurities people have about themselves, which is good. The bad is that many people will have impossible expectations of what a surgery will do for them and their self esteem.
An example of this which is used a lot is the story of Heidi Montag. Heidi was a beautiful girl on a very popular reality show on MTV, "The Hills". For one reason or another, Heidi felt the need to get plastic surgery and got a nose job and a breast argumentation. After the surgery, she was still just as pretty, but for some reason she decided to go back under the knife and get ten more procedures. On the show, her family was disgusted by how she looked and many viewers felt the same way.
The bad thing about the Heidi Montag story is that she did what she did, and she has to live with the consequences of what she has done (hopefully she likes the way she looks). The good thing about what happened to Heidi Montag, however, was that because what she was did was in front of millions of people who did not agree with her decision, they are less likely to get as many, if any, procedures done because they saw what it did to her. Heidi Montag is definitley no martyr for people thinking about getting plastic surgery, but her story will most likely be used as a cautionary tale.
An example of this which is used a lot is the story of Heidi Montag. Heidi was a beautiful girl on a very popular reality show on MTV, "The Hills". For one reason or another, Heidi felt the need to get plastic surgery and got a nose job and a breast argumentation. After the surgery, she was still just as pretty, but for some reason she decided to go back under the knife and get ten more procedures. On the show, her family was disgusted by how she looked and many viewers felt the same way.
The bad thing about the Heidi Montag story is that she did what she did, and she has to live with the consequences of what she has done (hopefully she likes the way she looks). The good thing about what happened to Heidi Montag, however, was that because what she was did was in front of millions of people who did not agree with her decision, they are less likely to get as many, if any, procedures done because they saw what it did to her. Heidi Montag is definitley no martyr for people thinking about getting plastic surgery, but her story will most likely be used as a cautionary tale.
Money Equals Masculinity
During our masculinity discussion, we have come to the conclusion that there are many different attributes men can have to be considered "manly." Men with big muscles are strong and they can protect women, funny men can entertain women, while intellectual men can provide stimulating conversation. Out of all of these types of men, however, the type of man that is seemed to be the most desirable is the successful man, or one with money.
The show Mad Men on AMC has become a new obsession of mine. Mad Men is a show about a thriving adverting agency based out of Manhattan. The main character, Don Draper, is the object of affection for pretty much all of the female characters on the show. While he is extremely handsome and sexy, the thing that gets him most of the ladies is the fact that he is successful. He is the head of the creative department for the agency at which he works, and he definitely looks the part. He always dresses in a suit, eats at expensive restaurants, and drives a nice car. This shows to the female characters on the show that this man has money and is successful. While I am not saying that this character wouldn't get attention from ladies just on his looks or personality alone, the fact that he looks like he has money definitely makes women swoon over him.
This message that this is giving to the viewers is that he who has the most money will have the most girls. While it is not a bad thing to be driven to want to be successful, a man’s goal to have money should not be to attract females. If a man just wants to have money for female attention, then they are going to attract the wrong kind of female
The show Mad Men on AMC has become a new obsession of mine. Mad Men is a show about a thriving adverting agency based out of Manhattan. The main character, Don Draper, is the object of affection for pretty much all of the female characters on the show. While he is extremely handsome and sexy, the thing that gets him most of the ladies is the fact that he is successful. He is the head of the creative department for the agency at which he works, and he definitely looks the part. He always dresses in a suit, eats at expensive restaurants, and drives a nice car. This shows to the female characters on the show that this man has money and is successful. While I am not saying that this character wouldn't get attention from ladies just on his looks or personality alone, the fact that he looks like he has money definitely makes women swoon over him.
This message that this is giving to the viewers is that he who has the most money will have the most girls. While it is not a bad thing to be driven to want to be successful, a man’s goal to have money should not be to attract females. If a man just wants to have money for female attention, then they are going to attract the wrong kind of female
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