I thought I'd share some thoughts from an article in the New York Times Saturday, which notes that men run the film and TV industries as well as the medical and pharmaceutical industries and set the standards for beauty, sexiness and normalcy.
They're created the image in shows like "Desperate Housewives'' that women are "rapacious sexual predators, always in the mood for sex and without qualms about bedding down as many men as possible.''
The article quoted one female professor of psychiatry as saying, "Everybody has to like sex, want sex, be good at sex. In the face of that, it's inevitable that people feel insecure.''
And plastic surgeons has promoted what they call "vaginal rejuvenation'' because women have become conscious of how their own genital features stack up against others.''
The article also says that female sexual dysfunction is an example of a disease created by the drug companies while in reality, scientists understand little about female desire and the interaction between the mind and the body.
I thought the article had some interesting points and I thought I'd see if any of the readers had any comments to make on this subject.
Your thoughts?
FD
Saturday Spankings - A different type of man
4 hours ago
I'm perfectly happy with the way I am, except for my tiny nipples. But that goes along with my tiny nose, feet and hands. Considering I'm 5'6 1/2", big boned and slightly overweight, I'm surprised anything on me is small. But I guess I got the good parts! Absolutely nothing wrong with my vaginal area as far as sensitivity, so I'm not sure about all that.
ReplyDeleteI do think that Hollywood has pushed the "perfect woman" image too far. Almost every woman I meet isn't happy about something about them. It's sad because God made us all different for a reason. We should strive to be healthy, but to strive for "Hollywood Perfection" isn't something that should take up any of our time, concern and effort.
As far as scientists understanding of the human mind, I think they are as quacky as some doctors. Just my opinion.
Hugs,
Jadedjewel
I definitely agree with Jadedjewel's final sentiment. A lot of people blindly accept scientific findings as fact because they've been researched in controlled settings by professionals and experts and therefore must be true. Really, any information interpreted by humans is flawed in some way, so to use the findings of scientific studies to describe the effects that the media has on women is not necessarily helpful. It's dangerous to generalize human experiences because every human's experience is different. But I don't think that's where you were going with this post lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've written on my own blog about how unfortunate I think it is that women are often hard on themselves (and on each other). I wish people could just accept that they are who they are.
Jadedjewel: It's great to hear you're perfectly happy the way you are except for the small nipples. I wish more women felt like you and appreciated the way they are instead of trying to live up to some unrealistic expectations.
ReplyDeleteTrueBlue: You're wise beyond your years. Yes, women are often hard on themselves and each other but I think our society creates an atmosphere that fosters that. How true that we'd all be better off if people could accept that they are who they are.
FD
Since my own sexuality and body have changed drastically over the years, I pretty much reject the idea of "normal". Being older, I can ignore the Hollywood image and just enjoy the pleasures of what I've learned over time. Any pleasure two people can give each other is a gift and it doesn't depend on the wrapping! Meow
ReplyDeleteI can't stand the way that Hollywood & the media have made us all so self-conscious. Shows like "Desperate Housewives" and others illustrate exactly how obsessed we are with looking as young as possible--hair, nails, injections, surgery, whatever it takes. Maybe what happens on these so-called 'reality' shows is real, maybe it isn't, but women watch... and we read magazines, and stare at celebrities. And what we all see is materialism, shallowness, and a desperate need to out-do each other! It would be so wonderful if we could all stop trying to be more youthful than our daughters and revel in the knowledge and wisdom that our lives have given to us.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I'm not really one to talk. I hate the images we have been given to idolize, yet I can't seem to help falling victim to it and finding myself hideously lacking in almost every way! Sigh...
Meow: Very good point that the gift doesn't depend on the wrapping.
ReplyDeleteLittle Butterfly: Hope you can find a way to see that you're not lacking in any way.
FD
I agree the media has thrown things way out of proportion... one, those models are all airbrushed... not perfect. And to be honest most of them are underweight and unhealthy. And just about every guy I know wants a woman with some meat on her bones. Not fat, but at least with some substance.
ReplyDeleteAn old roommate and friend of mine (a guy) once told me that when he's with a super skinny girl he's afraid he'll break her. He prefers "normal" women... you know with an average built... like most of the women out there these days who think they're fat and have no idea what fat is.
I'm perfectly comfortable with my body, except for my weight. But it's not just appearing fat that worries me (and I don't think I look fat, just sayin)... I'm more concerned with my health.
spirited
Spirited: I agree completely. I don't know how skinny models who look like they need a good meal got to be fashion icons. By today's standards Marilyn Monroe would need to lose a few pounds. One of my favorite lines is that real women have curves.
ReplyDeleteFD
i find the female sexual dysfunction portion particularly interesting; it's like when phychiatrists come up with new mental diagnosis' and say that people have chemical imbalances, yet no technology shows without a doubt that we are even aware of *all* the chemicals in the brain...therefore how can we be certain of an imbalance? But i digress... o think it goes back to "sex sells". i think sexiness should be advertised more as a state of mind and a confidence rather than a look or a size; perhaps the results would be much better when the audience felt they needed to work predominately on confidence to be sexy.
ReplyDelete