Okay, so I let it slip to my mom that I am currently “blogging.” My mom is just thrilled because not only am I blogging, but I am blogging about issues in the media. My mom and I are polar opposites. She absolutely has to keep up with all of the latest fashion trends and what the stars are doing. I, on the other hand, absolutely have to keep up with all of my studies and how many miles I should be doing. However, I think our polar opposite characteristics are what make us best friends. Needless to say, my mom was extremely excited when she found an article she thought I could write about.
The link is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/22/i-hate-fashion-tanya-gold
As I read this, my mind went straight to the Yep article. This article depicts violence on women in the heteronormative borders more than anything I have ever read. Essentially what the article is saying in a nutshell is that fashion is an institution that oppresses women. It brings on eating issues, psychological problems, and overall lack of self confidence. Who would have thought that nice heels and a fancy pair of jeans could be something that makes a woman feel like absolute crap about herself?
When I began reading this, I was like what is this woman talking about. Being fashionable is something every woman wants. How is that a problem? I then began to think. Why is it that we care so much about being fashionable? In the scheme of life, does fashion really matter? Who are we trying to impress?
We as women dress to impress. We dress to impress the boys. We dress to impress our girlfriends, or at least look better than them. We dress to impress the other kids in the classroom, and we even dress to impress our mothers. Everything we do to make ourselves look good requires impressing someone else, no matter what the cost.
Making an impression with fashion can be so important to women that it can kill. The article mentioned a girl who got killed because she slipped in her heels in the snow and fell in the pathway of a passing train. Why on Earth was she wearing heels on a snowy night? She wanted to impress someone, that’s why.
We live in a culture that wants us to walk, talk, act, eat, and dress a certain way. This box known as heteronormativity is making women look in the mirror and not be happy with the way that they are. Women, including me, will wear anything, no matter what the conditions are, just to get a second glance. I think the next time I go out and it is snowing, I am going to take off my red high heels, and I am going to look in the mirror and tell myself I look smokin’ hot in my snow boots.
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I really enjoyed your comments, as well as the article you wrote about. I had to laugh while reading it though. Not at you, but at myself. I know that the first thing that comes out of everyone's mouth when talking about advertisements or media etc is - "I don't let it impact me" or "I don't care about fashion" etc. I am one of those people, but I realize its a lie. I like dressing up and looking nice (whether to impress my boyfriend or my girlfriends etc), but I much prefer wearing tennis shoes, jeans and a hoodie - which if you notice - is what I wear on an almost daily basis. When I go out for a drink with my friends, I might put on a nice top, and jeans but you will not find me in heels. I prefer comfort and practicality to what is 'hot' or trendy. Why this is funny, is I find myself saying "I need more going out clothes or I should have worn something else" mainly because I see other girls wearing these things, and I see the way they look at me because I'm NOT wearing these things. I guess its really a catch 22, but it comes down to being happy with who and what you are - which is obviously one of our society's biggest problems.
ReplyDeleteI as a male, understand completely why women spend countless hours throughout weekend nights getting ready, primping, poking, and prodding their way to make themselves look good. I will definitely say that I am glad women, as a whole, take the time to make themselves look the way they do, but, like my dad always says, moderation is the key to success. I agree with the statements in the article about how women can drive themselves nuts trying to impress, and I think that it is a shame that some people let their aspiration for good looks get the best of them.
ReplyDeleteI think that our culture makes women worry constantly about their appearance while letting men take the easy way out. For instance I am letting my facial hair grow because I am not getting a hair cut for another week. I figure if my hair isn't going to look the way I want it to I might as well go the whole 9 yards and just get the rugged look going for me. Now could you imagine what people would say if a girl decided to take my attitude and let her hair grow on her armpits and legs for a few weeks until she got a haircut? I feel that it is a shame women are seemingly forced to constantly worry about their appearance, however, it seems society has to strong of a hold on social acceptance.