How is beauty represented in the media today with specific reference to black women?
The Medias views of black beauty standards today are very euro-centric; they have been for decades, since slavery. Black women have conformed to societies dominate ideology that having silky straight hair , being lighter in complexion and this has lead to the epidemic of black women feeling as if they are not beautiful in their own skin. As a result of the medias portrayal of black women not being deemed as beautiful by European standard, the constant reminder through tabloids and the general reminder that looking more western is more socially expectable this has been endorsed due to the constant portrayal of white women, with straight hair has instilled the …show more content…
The Vogue May 2014 edition had 86 adverts and a total of 10 black models were featured they all had weaves. Harper’s Bazaar 2014 edition had 70 adverts of which only 2 black models were featured and they had some type of extensions in their hair none of which were featured in hair adverts but 1 black female model was featured in a makeup advert. In Harper’s Bazaar 2015 had a total of 168 adverts and only 13 models that were black and they had weaves. My textual analysis shows that the representation of beauty is unfair and very narrow minded and very one sided, as all the black models were dressed in order to meet the expectations of the one beauty standard that having long hair is attractive and for it to be silky as well as wavy is desirable unlike their natural kinky hair. India Arie’s song ‘I am not my hair’ (2009) looks at beauty from both spectrums a black man and a black females outlook, it explores the insecurities black individuals experience with their skin as well as their outer appearance. ‘Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies’ this shows how black males are also effected by societies view of black beauty the text suggests men who have nappy hair are seen as unattractive it just insinuates the ideology that afro-kinky hair is seen as undesirable because it’s not seen as a norm of society. ‘corporate wasn’t hiring no dreadlocks’ this highlights how black beauty is not seen as it conforms to culture and heritage, the stereotypes that a person who has dreadlocks is associated with drugs so the profound stigma around dreadlocks is so negative. A comment on the video supports how beauty is seen as not natural. ‘Have you never noticed at all about how natural black hairstyles are regarded as ghetto, used
The Medias views of black beauty standards today are very euro-centric; they have been for decades, since slavery. Black women have conformed to societies dominate ideology that having silky straight hair , being lighter in complexion and this has lead to the epidemic of black women feeling as if they are not beautiful in their own skin. As a result of the medias portrayal of black women not being deemed as beautiful by European standard, the constant reminder through tabloids and the general reminder that looking more western is more socially expectable this has been endorsed due to the constant portrayal of white women, with straight hair has instilled the …show more content…
The Vogue May 2014 edition had 86 adverts and a total of 10 black models were featured they all had weaves. Harper’s Bazaar 2014 edition had 70 adverts of which only 2 black models were featured and they had some type of extensions in their hair none of which were featured in hair adverts but 1 black female model was featured in a makeup advert. In Harper’s Bazaar 2015 had a total of 168 adverts and only 13 models that were black and they had weaves. My textual analysis shows that the representation of beauty is unfair and very narrow minded and very one sided, as all the black models were dressed in order to meet the expectations of the one beauty standard that having long hair is attractive and for it to be silky as well as wavy is desirable unlike their natural kinky hair. India Arie’s song ‘I am not my hair’ (2009) looks at beauty from both spectrums a black man and a black females outlook, it explores the insecurities black individuals experience with their skin as well as their outer appearance. ‘Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies’ this shows how black males are also effected by societies view of black beauty the text suggests men who have nappy hair are seen as unattractive it just insinuates the ideology that afro-kinky hair is seen as undesirable because it’s not seen as a norm of society. ‘corporate wasn’t hiring no dreadlocks’ this highlights how black beauty is not seen as it conforms to culture and heritage, the stereotypes that a person who has dreadlocks is associated with drugs so the profound stigma around dreadlocks is so negative. A comment on the video supports how beauty is seen as not natural. ‘Have you never noticed at all about how natural black hairstyles are regarded as ghetto, used