The media’s ideal of beauty has been largely depicted as a “white woman” without flaws. The media plays a critical role in the construction of the narrative of beauty by portraying woman as obsessed with fashion who are willing to chase an unrealistic image at any cost, thereby also perpetuating the racial ideas that help to discriminates against women of colour.
Kwame Appiah’s theory of identity posits that the collective identity is a script whose notions and expectations which guides an individual in the way he ought to behave and act. In other words, the society provides the materials in order for them to construct their identity which though, “contested many of them, but all sides in these contests shape our options” (22). Based on …show more content…
People appearances, clothes and body structures differ from culture to culture and so, what might be considered as undesirable in one country may very well be beautiful in another. But, most certainly, those who are exposed to these types of cultural differences whether through multiculturation or interracial relationships (mixed- race) can influence how an individual view beauty as it relates to the Eurocentric ideal. “The clothes people wore were determined by where they lived, not when they lived. If stayed, where you lived, little changed, but if you moved to the next country, styles differ” (Laver, 1963). In relation, to our Caribbean society this is very relevant, if a person migrates to our islands they may be surprised by our way of life. Here, thick shapely and sometimes even “fat” women are regarded as sexy and attractive because some Caribbean men usually prefer ladies with flesh on their bodies and big posteriors. Therefore, these individuals will not be keen to reduce their weight to meet the media’s standard of beauty. Hence, similarly MTV allowed black music videos to be shown on their channel which are largely watched by predominantly white community. Now, it is evident that hip-hop is young white teens and adults acquainted fashion, as they both embraced “blackness” as the new embodied beauty. As a result, more and more women are seeking different looks from characterization of …show more content…
A. (2005). The Ethics of Identity. 41 William Street princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Bryant, S. L. (n.d.). The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women. Columbia Social Work Review, 4, 80-81. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://cswr.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Bryant.-The-beauty-ideal-The-effects-of-European-standards-of-beauty-on-Black-women
Mazur, A. (1986). U.S Trend in Feminine Beauty and Overadaption. The Journal of Sex Research, 22 N0.3, 281-284. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://jrscience.wcp.miamioh.edu/humans_web_04/beauty/feminine
Patton, T. O. (2006). Hey Girl, Am I More than My Hair? African American Women and Their Struggles with Beauty, Body Image and Hair. NSW A Journal 18.2 (summer 2006), 24-51. Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://ezproxy.cavehill.uwi.edu:2082/docview/233235409?accountid=45040
Russell, C (2012, October). Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model [Video File] Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model?language=en#t-125759
Toffoletti, K. (2007). Cyborgs,Feminism,Popular Culture and Barbie the Posthuman Body Dolls. New York 10010, 6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU: I.B Tauris & CO
Kwame Appiah’s theory of identity posits that the collective identity is a script whose notions and expectations which guides an individual in the way he ought to behave and act. In other words, the society provides the materials in order for them to construct their identity which though, “contested many of them, but all sides in these contests shape our options” (22). Based on …show more content…
People appearances, clothes and body structures differ from culture to culture and so, what might be considered as undesirable in one country may very well be beautiful in another. But, most certainly, those who are exposed to these types of cultural differences whether through multiculturation or interracial relationships (mixed- race) can influence how an individual view beauty as it relates to the Eurocentric ideal. “The clothes people wore were determined by where they lived, not when they lived. If stayed, where you lived, little changed, but if you moved to the next country, styles differ” (Laver, 1963). In relation, to our Caribbean society this is very relevant, if a person migrates to our islands they may be surprised by our way of life. Here, thick shapely and sometimes even “fat” women are regarded as sexy and attractive because some Caribbean men usually prefer ladies with flesh on their bodies and big posteriors. Therefore, these individuals will not be keen to reduce their weight to meet the media’s standard of beauty. Hence, similarly MTV allowed black music videos to be shown on their channel which are largely watched by predominantly white community. Now, it is evident that hip-hop is young white teens and adults acquainted fashion, as they both embraced “blackness” as the new embodied beauty. As a result, more and more women are seeking different looks from characterization of …show more content…
A. (2005). The Ethics of Identity. 41 William Street princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Bryant, S. L. (n.d.). The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women. Columbia Social Work Review, 4, 80-81. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://cswr.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Bryant.-The-beauty-ideal-The-effects-of-European-standards-of-beauty-on-Black-women
Mazur, A. (1986). U.S Trend in Feminine Beauty and Overadaption. The Journal of Sex Research, 22 N0.3, 281-284. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://jrscience.wcp.miamioh.edu/humans_web_04/beauty/feminine
Patton, T. O. (2006). Hey Girl, Am I More than My Hair? African American Women and Their Struggles with Beauty, Body Image and Hair. NSW A Journal 18.2 (summer 2006), 24-51. Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://ezproxy.cavehill.uwi.edu:2082/docview/233235409?accountid=45040
Russell, C (2012, October). Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model [Video File] Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model?language=en#t-125759
Toffoletti, K. (2007). Cyborgs,Feminism,Popular Culture and Barbie the Posthuman Body Dolls. New York 10010, 6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU: I.B Tauris & CO