U3177621 Journal D PDF

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Mandatory assignment - reflective journal D. Graded 6.3/8. ...

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U3177621 11146 Reflective Journal (D)

Word count: 554

During the last couple of weeks, we have examined how binaries are used to reduce complex ideas into communicable ones. In the process of doing so, one of the binaries is always privileged over the other, (i.e. men and women, modern and primitive, or mind and body). Binaries sometimes intersect, like in the case of men as the mind, and women as the body. When this happens, they act as mutually exclusive extremes, perpetuating the idea that a woman cannot be smart, and a men should not be “vain” as seen in criticisms of metro sexuality in week 6. I found that the Ted Talk by Jean Kilbourne can be used to support the content of the lecture. For example, we use the example of “chairman” and “chairwoman” to show how the meaning and the connotations in words change when we try to eliminate the binaries in them. This can be linked to how Kilbourne explains that the body language of women in advertising remains submissive, but when these traits are applied to men, they serve to ridicule them. We also addressed how the physical body is transformed into the social body, which according to Parker happens as a result of the norms that social institutions, ideology, values, beliefs, and technology

stablish. Kilbourne argues that these norms are spread through images in advertisings, as they are the ones we use to police ourselves and others. This surveillance occurs among women as well; arguably a form of internalised misogyny.

Although standards of beauty exist for both men and women, the standards for men take the form of a continuum, where visual diversity is accepted, while society pressures women to conform to a very specific body type determined by male desire (Parker, 2009, p. 26).These hegemonic representations of beauty have changed over time and are becoming increasingly more unrealistic. However, we see so many public figures on social media and advertisings that present this body type, and given the lack of disclosure about photoshop and cosmetic surgery, these images are marketed as ‘easily achievable’ to women. Moreover, brands use these public figures to advertise laxatives, diet teas, and many other damaging products as the means that got them to look that way. The truth is these figures have access to the best surgeons and personal trainers, and most likely have never used the products they advertise. Pushing women to conform to this images in order to be respected or successful leads to loss of self-esteem, eating disorders, and a perceived need for makeup and surgery. Ultimately, this turns the issue into a never-ending cycle of unhappiness for women and remuneration for the figures and brands who set the beauty standards. This idea was addressed by professor of 1

U3177621 11146 Reflective Journal (D)

Word count: 554

sociology Dr. Gail Dines, as she stated: “if tomorrow women woke up and decided they really liked their bodies, just think how many industries would go out of business”. Women are punished from an early age to conform to a virtually impossible image of beauty, and the punished as they age, for not being able to stick to it. I believe these images perpetuate the binary of mind and body, and thus prevent women from ever fully scaping the role of a subordinate who is only worth her beauty. Regulations need to be enforced in advertising and social media.

References Goffman, E. (1987). Gender Advertisements. New York: Harper Torchbooks. Kilbourne, J. (2014, May 8). The Dangerous Ways Ads See Women. Retrieved from Tedx Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy8yLaoWybk Kirkpatrick, R. “Gendered and Sexualised Bodies” (Lecture week 9; 11146 Global Perspectives on Gender, Sex and Sexuality; University of Canberra) October 3rd, 2019. Parker, R. (2009). Women, Doctors and Cosmetic Surgery. In R. Parker, Negotiating the ‘Normal’ Body (pp. 25-37). London: Palgrave Mcmillan. Terkildsen, N., & Schnell, F. (1997). How Media Frames Move Public Opinion: An Analysis of the Women's Movement. Political Research Quarterly, 50, 879-900.

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