The artifact chosen for this analysis is a “keep calm” image. It is not the typical keep calm message encouraging people to stay strong and “carry on”. In fact, it is the complete opposite. The image states, “Keep Calm and Don’t Eat.” The message for women to eat less, be smaller, and do not be seen is what makes women powerless. Not only is this picture promoting anorexia, but it is also telling women what to do. Eating disorders in females have a direct correlation with their lack of power in society.
Lack of control in women can lead them to take on an eating disorder. Women do not have control in a patriarchal society. They feel that an eating disorder is one thing that can give them power over something-their bodies. In “The Body Politic” …show more content…
In “The Beauty Myth”, Naomi Wolf describes this myth as “prescribing behavior and not appearance” (Wolf 14). Women try to attain a look that is unattainable and because they are trying so hard to be skinny and attractive, they are distracted from the real problem. The real problem is their lack of control. Society uses the “beauty myth” to distract women from obtaining power. They are told not to eat, and focus on dieting rather than fighting inequality. Images like “Keep Calm and Don’t Eat” are used to distract women from wanting power. “As young feminists, we must place unconditional acceptance of our bodies at the top of our political agenda.” (Chernik 110). This means that once women accept themselves as they are and stop trying to achieve a look that is impractical, they attain power. Once women realize that they do not need approval from the rest of society, they take control. In “The Cult of Virginity”, the author states, “It’s an interesting state of affairs when women have to simply do, well, nothing in order to be considered ethical role models.” (Valenti183-4). The picture ultimately tells women not to exist. The less they eat, the thinner they will be. Eventually, they will be so small that it will be as if they almost are not there. Rather than becoming weaker and more invisible in society, women should become a model of power and
Lack of control in women can lead them to take on an eating disorder. Women do not have control in a patriarchal society. They feel that an eating disorder is one thing that can give them power over something-their bodies. In “The Body Politic” …show more content…
In “The Beauty Myth”, Naomi Wolf describes this myth as “prescribing behavior and not appearance” (Wolf 14). Women try to attain a look that is unattainable and because they are trying so hard to be skinny and attractive, they are distracted from the real problem. The real problem is their lack of control. Society uses the “beauty myth” to distract women from obtaining power. They are told not to eat, and focus on dieting rather than fighting inequality. Images like “Keep Calm and Don’t Eat” are used to distract women from wanting power. “As young feminists, we must place unconditional acceptance of our bodies at the top of our political agenda.” (Chernik 110). This means that once women accept themselves as they are and stop trying to achieve a look that is impractical, they attain power. Once women realize that they do not need approval from the rest of society, they take control. In “The Cult of Virginity”, the author states, “It’s an interesting state of affairs when women have to simply do, well, nothing in order to be considered ethical role models.” (Valenti183-4). The picture ultimately tells women not to exist. The less they eat, the thinner they will be. Eventually, they will be so small that it will be as if they almost are not there. Rather than becoming weaker and more invisible in society, women should become a model of power and