Blog 6: Beauty as Commodity, Woman as Consumer and Product

Below are pictures of stars who have undergone subtle plastic surgery changes.






Why did cosmetic surgery become centered around women?
The surge in the accessibility to mass media and advertising has made an impact on the refocusing of cosmetic surgery towards women. The issue of cosmetic surgery to fix a particular flaw and contend with the nagging self doubt seems more mainstream than in early cosmetic history of finding content in natural selection. The change that has greatly impacted female’s self perceptions is that of insecurity or self-identity and the availability to “fix” a flaw and in doing so fixing self-insecurity and boosting one’s self identity. I believe women in today’s society have polar role-models with whom they make constant unconscious or conscious comparisons to, and the choice of comparing causes the degradation or in some cases boosting of one’s self-esteem. I believe it can be explained that women throughout history for the most part have been more concerned with appearance—than men—and this generational fight has now been cured with the ability to “nip/tuck.” Cosmetic surgery is a quick and easy fix of the beginning to solving personal issues.


What are your thoughts on cosmetic surgery?
I think cosmetic surgery is fascinating medical field and like any profession has positives and negatives. Cosmetic surgery is so helpful in the rehabilitation of individuals who have experienced great physical disfiguring trauma. The field is also helpful to those who have mental and perception trauma in their body image. I am not against individuals—male and female—opting to pay to alter their bodies; however, I do believe there needs to be a screening process as Debra Gimlin discusses in her essay. I think it is important for cosmetic surgeons to evaluate patients physically and mentally and coach patients whether they are ready or not for the particular procedure. I think ill counseling efforts can cause the addictive tendency to cosmetic surgery because the seriousness of the procedure was not thoroughly explained.



Do you feel it is something people take too lightly?
Yes. Like I mentioned in the previous response, I believe there is not sufficient patient education on the affects of post-cosmetic surgery. The choice to undergo such a procedure should include months of mental and physical preparation and periodic evaluations by the physiclan before full approval to do the procedure. I think if more plastic surgeons carried out their practice like so, then there would be less accidents and addictions to cosmetic procedures.


Is it an expression of a vain and shallow culture or is it something positive people can do to improve their looks and self-image? Or does it depend upon the context?

I believe it can be all of these depending upon the context. I think if someone wants cosmetic surgery so bad then they are going to find someone to do the procedure regardless of the dangers and social implications. However, I do believe surgery can be an enhancement to someone who is aging, young, and even a victim of life accidents.

I know three individuals who underwent cosmetic surgery: two for sole cosmetic purposes and one for health reasons. I had a 23 year old friend who had naturally unhealthy large sized breast that were causing back pain and full body strain. She underwent a breast reduction so that her breast would be proportionate to her body and save her further medical complications later in life. She now feels better because she does not have to worry about how her breast may offend people in public, and how she can wear clothing that fits instead of clothing that just fits her breasts. The other cases are one of a 56 year old practicing physician who had the genetic inclination to baggy eyes and inelastic aged facial skin. She underwent a procedure to reintroduce elasticity to her face and to reduce her puffy eyes. Everyone agrees that she does look remarkably better and she too does not regret the procedure because she feels she finally looks her age and not older. I also had another friend who had breast augmentation to make her breast larger. I was almost embarrassed that someone my age would want larger breast. You see I consider my breast normal in size and love the fact that they are not large or busty because I can wear clothing that is low (which is comfy) and not worry about cleavage or bustyness showing. However, when I asked her why she wanted to have bigger breasts she told me that most people don’t know that she has no chest because she has always only been able to wear adolescent training push-up bras. Instantly I knew what she meant and sympathized with her issue with her body image. I also asked her if she ever considered waiting several years until she had children and see if then she may develop child-bearing breasts. She said it’s something she thought about, but whose to say that children are in her near future and why would I wait to have breasts and still be insecure until years from now. It was a powerful explanation and moment with an in person situation of body image and societal influence. I discontinued my rant of twenty questions and encouraged her that her new breasts would look great and that she would be alright. I met up with her after her procedure--noticed that like my other friend who had breast reduction--her new breast now fit her body and created a more well-rounded look for her. In these cases I would not choose to undergo cosmetic surgery but it is a personal decision that needs to be dealt with in a serious matter.

Blog 7: Culture of Thinness

• What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder as defined by the Oxford American dictionary is any of a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits.

• How has the influence of the fashion, film, media, and diet industries affected our notions of beauty and contributed to the rise in eating disorders as well as disordered eating?

The social institutions of media and pop culture influence our notions of beauty by the “invisible” institutions standards by marketing these images as wealth, prosperity, and success. American’s live by the premise of the self made man and we encourage and feed off individuals who have made it to the “top” and constantly compare ourselves to these people. Why? It is human nature to constantly size our personal accomplishments and status with others—a psychological and physically manifested “Keeping up the with Jones’s’” complex. Since now we understand how underlying insecurities can exist it is more simple to understand how social influence can affect self-perceptions manifestations in the form of eating disorders and disordered eating. Because humanity is in some form genetically inclined to feed off influence and praise that the social institutions mass force of influence thus have an impact on our psyche affecting our self image depending on how strong and positive or negative or self-esteem has been developed.

• Can a detailed look at the clinical picture of what eating disorders are, including definitions, common themes, cultural and family background analysis, aid in the prevention and treatment of these illnesses and conditions?

There are many preventative measures that can be made to prevent further generations from suffering from family and friend influence and inclination towards eating disorders; however, I do believe people do not seek such evaluation and help to prevent further evolution of eating disorders.

• Have food, appearance preoccupation and diet addiction become our society’s new sacred rituals?

Yes, there’s a huge movement towards food portion and weight control. The media and reality have impacted recent American culture to become highly aware of calories from shows like: “The Biggest Loser”, “Diet Wars”, “Extreme Makeover”, and “Celebrity Fit Club”. Some of these shows’ contestants are normal lay individuals while others are even movie/TV stars struggling with the ideal/image they project! The new era of body image and food contains individuals more knowledgeable on food calories, nutrition value, organic and processed, and preferences; even with more accessible knowledge society still chooses to be impacted by social institutional influence.

• How has a capitalist and abundant economic climate contributed to the disorders related to food, obesity and a preoccupation with appearance?

In researching how capitalist and abundant economies can affect disorders related to food, obesity, and preoccupation with appearance I found a series of documentaries by the BBC on “America’s ‘Body Image’ Documentary”.


BBC AMERICA REVEALS TO PREMIERE SIX NEW BODY IMAGE DOCUMENTARIES ON SUNDAYS THIS SUMMER
o Following the success of Super Skinny Me and My Big Breasts and I, BBC AMERICA’s weekly documentary slot, BBC AMERICA REVEALS, will premiere six brand new body image programs starting in June. The collection of documentaries includes - Too Ugly To Love, which follows three people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a largely undiagnosed body image disorder - Plastic Surgery Junkies with Louis Theroux, where the investigative journalist travels to California to reveal the startling reality of this Hollywood trend and Transvestite Wives, which begins the series with a firsthand look at transvestite relationships.

TRANSVESTITE WIVES
o Transvestite Wives takes a look at three transvestite relationships through the eyes of their wives and partners. Sheila discovered seven years into her relationship that her husband Dennis is a transvestite, while Sam, 20, is embracing her 40-year-old partner Chris’s transvestite lifestyle and Robyn at last finds happiness with her cross-dresser husband Dean.
o Transvestite Wives premieres Sunday, June 1, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

TOO UGLY TO LOVE
o Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a largely undiagnosed body image disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in one’s physical appearance. The condition finds people obsessed with the way they look and causes significant emotional stress. Often misunderstood as a vanity driven obsession, people with BDD are quite the opposite - they think they are ugly or disfigured. Too Ugly To Love follows the lives of three people who are battling with the debilitating condition to regain a normal life.
o Too Ugly To Love premieres Sunday, June 8, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

BRITAIN’S WORST TEETH
o This eye-opening documentary follows four people in their twenties, who have some of the worst teeth in Britain. Their teeth are so dreadful they have an impact on every aspect of their lives – they find eating and speaking difficult because of the pain, are embarrassed to go out and have no hope of attracting partners. Luckily, three of Britain's top dentists have agreed to take on these four cases to see if there’s anything that can be done to save their terrible teeth.
o Britain’s Worst Teeth premieres Sunday, June 15, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

MY SECRET FEMALE BODY
o My Secret Female Body takes a look at the life of Danny, a female-to-male transsexual. Born as Katie, Danny has been living as a man for four years and has had male hormone injections, every two weeks, for a year. Now, at 22, Danny undergoes a dramatic surgical transformation which physically changes his body from female to male. This documentary sees Danny embark on the
o first stage of this irreversible procedure – a double mastectomy – which is followed by complicated penis surgery. My Secret Female Body premieres Sunday, June 22, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

I’M A BOY ANOREXIC
o Anorexia is often seen as being a “girl's problem” - but it’s not just girls that are affected by eating disorders. Boys can develop them too, though their symptoms are often missed. This documentary follows Declan, a 15-year-old boy, who struggles with an obsessive relationship with food. As a last resort, after losing a dramatic amount of weight, he turns to Rhodes Farm, a unit dedicated to treatment of children with eating disorders. Declan is not alone, the film talks to other patients about their struggles, including the clinic’s youngest male, an 11-year-old boy. This journey follows Declan’s final weeks of treatment and his return to school with the attempt at a fresh start.
o I’m a Boy Anorexic premieres Sunday, July 6, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
o PLASTIC SURGERY JUNKIES WITH LOUIS THEROUX
o Investigative journalist Louis Theroux (Michael Moore’s TV Nation, Weird Weekends) travels to California to observe the sweeping trend of being obsessed with self image. In California, the birthplace of plastic surgery, people can be whatever they want, at the flick of knife and with a few thousand dollars. In fact, they don’t even need the cash, just a credit card or a monthly payment plan with their friendly plastic surgeon. What was once an unaffordable luxury is now an everyday commodity. Louis meets an astonishing cast of characters and discovers a complex arena of cosmetic surgery. Will Louis succumb to the promises of plastic surgery and opt for a procedure himself?
o Plastic Surgery Junkies with Louis Theroux premieres Sunday, July 13, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
o BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies and life-changing makeovers. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 60 million homes. For up-to-the-minute information on BBC AMERICA, forthcoming U.S. premieres, art work and news from the channel, log on to www.press.bbcamerica.com.

Can society become reintegrated ?
• I believe society is incapable of becoming reintegrated because the social perceptions have been deeply ingrained in our cultural society. I do not mean or try to be pessimistic but I do think that when some perceptions are so popular and commercialized that it is very difficult to decrease the marketable influence.

Blog 4

Blog 4: Beauty Cult & Men

• What are some benefits to boys and men of putting on the “tough guise”?

• I believe it is important for men to have a healthy sense of the “tough guise” in order to fulfill a part of the genetically inclined need to rescue, protect, and provide for someone in their lifetime. However, the “tough guise” has been misconstrued to type cast men to no longer be caring, protective, and provisional roles but to be tough, inconsiderate, insecure, and highly affected by social roles in society.

• When is it an effective and adaptive response, and when is it self-destructive and dangerous to others?

• Men and women both experience benefits from the positive healthy use of a “tough guise”; however, when the “tough guise” is used in the context of Jackson Katz film is where men, like women, get lost in societies opinions of beauty and live, breathe, and thrive on what outer results provide instead of inner satisfaction.

• Many people think the very concept of “gender issues” is synonymous with “women’s issues.”
o Talk about why this is so.
o Discuss how this misconception makes it difficult for many men, and women, to understand the gendered nature of men’s lives.

• Gender roles help to fulfill life efficiently and with some form of definition. Gender is not meant to keep humanity within certain perimeters but to allow the division of labor more effectively and efficiently. Some gender issues can be debilitating for those stuck within the norm of having things black and white. However, learning gender roles is not an issue we decide to learn for ourselves but something we learn by social conditioning.

• What are some of the potential effects on boys and men of trying to live up to our culture’s ideal of physical size and strength?
o Emotional Effects?
o Health effects?

• I believe the social constructions are not healthy for both male and female. The societal ideal sets up unattainable goals of masculinity and image that is impossible to attain. However, the use of societal images and perceptions can be used to encourage someone to maintain health and healthy body image—as said by a male friend of mine in the fashion and film industry. I do believe an unhealthy perception, just like for females, can lead a life of anxiety and neurotic sentiments—unfulfilled life.

• What is the relationship between cultural ideals and male strength and steroid abuse?
o Do you feel that the media simply reflect changes in society, or do they in some way inspire change?
o If the former was the stereotypical size of the “masculine” male so much smaller in the past?
o If the latter, explain how and why you feel individuals are susceptible to media influence?

• From the readings in the Body Outlaws text I believe like stated earlier that the affects of media influence affected the individual in the texts, but I believe the effect depends on the health and stability of the individual.
  

• From the video, Greg decided steroids were his aid in achieving the body building supreme figure. However, he now suffers the consequences of loss of muscle, steroid side affects, and his accountability with the law. The media influence on males such as steroid use, athleticism, and body form can have a grave affect in the lives of friends and relatives. I had a former experience with a close male friend of mine having an eating disorder and being an NCAA star football player. My friend struggled with being 6’6 weighing 300lbs and the girl he dated being 5’5 and weighing at 130 lbs. He felt that he looked and was perceived as abnormal to everyone because he was tall and a muscular athlete. I kept explaining to my friend that as an active athlete he needed to eat the recommended three meals a day because his body used calories in excess compared to the average males body. My friend had become susceptible to the social body image of the average male size and the look. However, he was not this societal ideal image but much better he is intelligent, an amazing singer, and an all star athlete. It is interesting to see what current teens say about their body image, societal roles, and labels and we perceive all the issues.