Posts Tagged beauty norms

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Having body hair will literally turn you into a dude, according to Veet’s new ad campaign

I seem to remember a time when sexism in advertising was subtle enough that critiquing it involved some skill — or least a keen eye. It was fun, truth be told, to tease out the sexist subtexts of so many of the commercials that inundate media consumers every day. Perhaps I’m romanticizing the not-so-distant past, but these days — and I don’t know if it’s due to pure laziness or some increased gender anxiety that advertisers are picking up on — it seems that, more and more, subtext is becoming straight-up text. 

I seem to remember a time when sexism in advertising was subtle enough that critiquing it involved some skill — or least a keen eye. It was fun, truth be told, to tease out the sexist subtexts ...
By Verónica Bayetti Flores • 10 years ago

On mannequins and plastic surgery in Venezuela, context is key

Are Venezolanas really that much more invested in a limited beauty standard than women elsewhere? As a Venezolana myself, I have to say that this article about the trend in ridiculously busty mannequins in Venezuela – and how that both reflects and affects a new-ish plastic-surgeried reality – made me bristle a bit in its ethnocentrism.

Are Venezolanas really that much more invested in a limited beauty standard than women elsewhere? As a Venezolana myself, I have to say that this article about the trend in ridiculously busty mannequins in Venezuela – ...
By Sesali B. • 10 years ago

Naomi Campbell checks interviewer while advocating for more models of color

Naomi Campbell has become notoriously known for her episodes of violence. Specifically, she has been charged with assault 3 different times for hitting or throwing her phone (obviously this was before cell phone market values were $600) at assistants and her housekeeper. It’s safe to say that sometimes she doesn’t handle her anger well. However, that does not equate to her being an “angry” person as an interviewer suggested to her a couple of weeks ago.

The interview was a one-on-one with Campbell about a new campaign she launched with Bethann Hardison and black supermodel Iman to bring more models of color to the catwalk. But the interview took a turn when the interviewer wanted to talk about Campbell’s ...

Naomi Campbell has become notoriously known for her episodes of violence. Specifically, she has been charged with assault 3 different times for hitting or throwing her phone (obviously this was before cell phone market values were $600) ...
By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Fund the media you want to see in the world

I often say that if you want to see better media, you have to consume better media.

If we want to live in a world with fewer women’s magazines that enforce stupid, restrictive gendered behavioural norms, we have to stop buying women’s magazines that enforce stupid, restrictive gendered behavioural norms. If we want to live in a world without romantic comedies that shame women for being single and having careers, we have to stop buying tickets to see romantic comedies that shame women for being single and having careers (and maybe have Katherine Heigl commit to a five-year moratorium on playing the Uptight Career Shrew Who Needs A Charming Misogynist to Teach Her How to Love.)

Sometimes, though, we have to go ...

I often say that if you want to see better media, you have to consume better media.

If we want to live in a world with fewer women’s magazines that enforce stupid, restrictive gendered behavioural norms, we have ...
By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

On beauty and love, in the wake of Liz Taylor’s passing

Elizabeth Taylor has passed away.

In addition to a famous and much-celebrated movie star, she was an HIV/AIDS activist and ally to the LGBT community who helped a lot of poor people of color.

Having been born in the ’80’s, I didn’t live through the period that most would call “the height of her career”, so although I was sad to hear of her death, as I would be to hear of the death of any beloved public figure, I didn’t really think too much of it beyond that.

However, I haven’t been able to help but notice that since her passing two days ago, many have been inspired to write long and detailed descriptions of her beauty, both real ...

Elizabeth Taylor has passed away.

In addition to a famous and much-celebrated movie star, she was an HIV/AIDS activist and ally to the LGBT community who helped a lot of poor people of color.

Having been ...
By Jos Truitt • 13 years ago

Unretouched make up ad a reminder the problem’s much bigger

I’m pretty sure Make Up For Ever had folks like the Feministing community in mind when they put together this ad:

The ad claims to be the first for make up that isn’t retouched. The feminist critique of retouched images of models has gone mainstream, so I’m not surprised to see a make up company engage with it directly. But I see this more as an attempt to co-opt the critique in order to sell a product than actual progress. Don’t get me wrong, I love make up – my feminism has equal space for stilettos and work boots. But this ad still represents a very specific beauty standard – the model is still incredibly thin, white, blond, the photo’s ...

I’m pretty sure Make Up For Ever had folks like the Feministing community in mind when they put together this ad:

The ad claims to be the first for make up that isn’t retouched. The feminist critique ...
By Chloe Angyal • 13 years ago

Woman dies after illegal hotel room cosmetic surgery

It was reported yesterday that a woman named Claudia Sereye Aderotimi died in a Philadelphia after undergoing an illegal cosmetic surgery – an injection of a substance to her buttocks – in a hotel room near the Philly airport. According to the AP:

Aderotimi, who lived in London but was not a British citizen, flew from London to Philadelphia on Saturday with three other women. One friend had a similar cosmetic procedure and the other two went shopping in New York, Evers said. Police declined to release their names but said all were in their early 20s.

Earlier this year I found myself getting really angry about the news that French model Isabelle Caro had died after a long battle ...

It was reported yesterday that a woman named Claudia Sereye Aderotimi died in a Philadelphia after undergoing an illegal cosmetic surgery – an injection of a substance to her buttocks – in a hotel room near the ...

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