The Beauty Ideal

1
The Beauty Ideal Body Modification
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Body Modification

• Body modification has persisted for centuries.
  The question of todays era is every form of
  modification equal?
• There is nothing wrong with body modification,
  per se.
• It is a fact of being human it is a social
  desire.
• The sociological questions are
• how do we construct certain body modifications
  as normal or extreme?
• what ideal are we striving for?
• How is the ideal created and why do we believe
  it to be an attainable reality?
• The feminist question is, does body modification
  harm womens health?

3
Capitalism

• At the heart of capitalism is the illusion that
  people are like things (Labor is cheap) and
  things are like people (Money talks) Hill
  Gates
• In America, we believe that we can consume our
  way to beauty.

4
Extreme?

• Chinese practice of foot binding foot binding
  was a symbol of wealth and social status, stopped
  in 1930s.
• Victorian corset extreme hour-glass shape,
  restriction makes it impossible for women to
  work, constructed anatomy and blood flow, causing
  hysteria or fainting
• Cliterodectomy reduction of womens libido to
  assure chastity before marriage, vaginal
  rejuvenation (Jenna Jamison)
• Skin Bleaching Darker women using skin
  lightening products to fit a white beauty ideal
• Cosmetic Surgery liposuction, Breast
  augmentation, cosmetic eyelid surgery, tummy
  tuck, rhinoplasty

5
Normal?

• Tattooing
• Make-up
• Hair removal
• Hair dye
• High heels
• Wonder bra
• Sucking in
• Exercise
• Diets
• Tanning
• Anti-aging creams