Patrick Campbell
Gloria Steinem’s piece “Sex, Lies and Advertising” really opened my eyes to the world of advertising regarding feminism. I completely agree with Steinem when she states that, “advertisers-not readers-have always been the problem.” Furthermore, that statement has been proven true in many of our readings in this course, whether it be Barbie Dolls, cosmetics, Playboy, etc. These types of advertising ultimately contribute to the constant fuel and anger of feminists worldwide. That is said because these type of situations involving the way advertisers or big business tend to appeal to women consequently distorts the worlds view of women in society. Issues like these are the sole reason why Steinem portrays that women in these types of situations are not seen or taken as serious. Steinem’s case involving the comparison of GM ads to women’s magazines really threw me for a loop and made me realize that the issues that feminists discuss reach much deeper than some of the fundamental ideals we have seen thus far in this course.
The onset of Joan Brumberg’s piece “Body Projects” portrays the most articulated depiction of what women worry about regarding their physical make-up and how they perceive themselves to date. What I have seen to be truly interesting is that although many adolescent women have been taking it upon themselves to raise their self esteem by working on their physical features, this was mostly done to appear more mature. Adolescent men on the other hand wait to attain facial hair and beards that make them appear more mature. Through personal experience I see this type of action to depict maturity in high school and college kids as well, whether it be to appear old enough to get into bars or clubs. In other words, men and women in today’s world attempt to groom their facial features or body to appear like the face in their fake ID’s. Brumberg introduces the reader to a case involving a young girl and her attempt at proper dieting. This issue was very interesting to me that her parents believed it was a serious problem that she cared for her physical well-being and appearance. This type of care towards your health and body is nothing like the way women worry about their bra size or butt shape, therefore, it is completely irrational for her parents to carry out the way they did.
Brumberg and Steinem’s articles both shed light on women and how they are perceived. For women to have to identify themselves through their image and not their features that legitimately have an impact on the world around them is one I see as truly disheartening. Modern day feminists believe that women should identify themselves through their strengths and the characteristics that will further their life going forward. It is obvious that the world of advertisement hinders women’s ability to believe that their characteristics like intelligence, strength, and perseverance are highly weighed and respected in the world around them. Modern day society has made women feel that their appearance and overall image is what society needs for them to be noticed or taken as seriously, this is why women’s self esteem are rendered minimal if they are not blessed with very attractive characteristics. All in all, I personally believe that if more women acted the way Patricia Carbine did regarding her passion for educating young women and painting a highly respectable image of women in today’s society.
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