Obsessed with T and A

I agree and like the fact that you mentioned how physical attractiveness presents a wide range of advantages for many citizens in real world opportunities, because this is very true. I remember learning about a study done with people interviewing for jobs, and almost always the so called "better looking" person got the job and a more friendly attitude from the interviewer. Of course this is not fair. Judging people on their looks is never fair, unless they would volunteer themselves for something like a beauty pageant, and even then it is not just based on looks. I think this applies to both men and women. More attractive men can have opportunities thrown at them because, let's face it, people like good looking people. Women can get shafted for a job, or even just snubbed in a bar because she is not the 'hottest' one there. As far as actually doing anything about it, well, people need to stop being so vain! But for all those people who just love to love themselves and who keep their ideals of beauty focused on things like the perfect body, best clothes, cars, houses etc. to just stop it, and start viewing beauty as in the eye of the beholder, is a rather difficult feat.

No, I don't think plastic surgery is degrading the women who participate in it. If anything it lifts them up and puts them at a higher level in society. As stated in the discussion post these women are gaining more power in society because of their "beauty". I think that is a big part of why women have these procedures. They gain more attention from males but also gain more power over other women. I think that there is a clear competition between women for "beauty". Just look at any magazine ad. The standard for other women is ridiculous!!! And it is women doing it to women in my view. I don't think men have so much to do with it as some may say. It is women trying to get ahead in a mans world by oppressing or getting ahead of other women. I think we have gotten really far from sisterhood, and we need to get back to realistic ideas of womens bodies.

As a male, I must say that I too enjoy T and A. I'm not obsessed with it but I do like it. It's definately not all I look for in agirl, because she def has to have a good personality, but T and A do help out. As "outsiders", I think you can just try to make people realize that T and A are not all that make a woman attractive. More people are having surgery done because they want to be like the "HOT" celebrities like Jessica Alba or Brad Pitt. I feel liek they think that in order to be accepted and to feel good about themselves, they have to be "perfect." I feel that these surgeries do ahve an affect on women's self-esteem because it's pressuring other women to have procedures done. Also, males are starting to think that all women should be perfect since surgery is so common now.

Does anyone remember the show - the Swan. Where they took "ugly ducklings" and turned them into Barbie dolls? I watched it once just to see what it was like and I was appalled at what they did to those women. Okay so maybe they did have some problems at the beginning of the show, but it wasn't anything that that needed to be fixed by a boob job. Anyone else happen to remember this show? Thank goodness it didn't last. These women were made to think that they were ugly though but through the magic of reality TV they could be transformed into a "swan". Why not just give them a mentor to maybe help them become healtheir and happier with their lives?

Today the rate of women getting plastic surgery is definitely high, and it doesn’t help with today’s media either. Women see all these models and actresses and want to look just like them. I really see nothing wrong with it though life is short if you are not happy with yourself make a change and if that’s plastic surgery go for it in the end it should be about you and that is one of the main reasons women get it done because they are not happy with them selves. I don’t think there is really anything we could do or even should do about this because no matter what it’s not going to stop, if people are not happy with them selves and they have the money to change it they will regardless of what others think.

This is an interesting topic. Throughout history, women have always been comparing themselves to magazine ads, models, and movie stars. The media knows this and created a market around women. Women are, more or less, forced by the media to think that they should look a certain way. You can't walk through the mall without seeing a Revlon billboard, or a half naked Abercrombie model on the beach. The reason I said this is an interesting topic is because for the first time, men are starting to fall victim to the same thing. The 10% of men who have washboard abs, square jaws, and broad shoulders (sounds like me...jk....anyways) are having an impact on men and how they view themselves. 20 years ago, a man wouldnt be caught anywhere near a hair saloon, tanning saloon, nail saloon. But now, men are starting to feel the pressures that women have been feeling for centuries. And as long as women keep buying concealer make up, tanning passes, Cosmo, and Fat Free chips, the industries will have their foot in the door. This frenzy is the latest fad, and hopefully it will die out. The next time you are channel surfing, take note of how many dietary supplement commercials you see. Also, take note on which commercials are on which stations. The NFL on sundays advertises trucks, lawn care, beer, and home improvement. Good Morning America, MTV, Lifetime, and throughout the course of any "soap", the viewer is sure to see commericals for makeup, hair care, weight watchers, yogurt, and household cleaning agents. You can hate the marketing schemes, but, as long as you think you need it, they will sell it. Afterall, the media created the "ultimate look". We are the suckers buying into it.

I think these mentioned televisions shows are definitely an influence on the growing trend of plastic surgery (especially received by women). I think that more and more women are receiving plastic surgery not solely because of these shows, but by every factor that their society, self confidence, family, lover, job, and other such things place upon them. However, women do have the right to receive plastic surgery and should not be condemned for their decision to do so. If a women is completely aware of her decision, risks of the surgery, and confident in herself, I believe she should be able to sculpt her body how she sees fit. There are two sides to receiving plastic surgery; yes, one can “degrade women of their self-respect and dignity” if they choose to let it, and two, plastic surgery can be used by a women to do with her body what she wishes because she wishes to without being influenced by society and expectations. I am not quite sure what “absolute advantage” you speak of, there are many. But if this does occur, no, I do not see it as being fair. For example, if a “pretty” women is hired over an “ugly’ women, how would that be fair? It isn’t. And as citizens, we should stand up and say that looks do not matter. But because the reality of our situation is in our society looks do matter (now). Can that be changed? I do not know. Will I work to change it? Yes. I think we as a people should fight against standards, expectations, and rules of what we should look like as women and as men. In my opinion this can be recognized and it should be absorbed on a deeper level by many other people.

I don't know that if someone has plastic surgery that it necessarily gives them an absolute advantage over their peers. Perhaps in some instances yes and in others no. For example, if the plastic surgery is extensive and maybe over used the person could be labeled as someone that is addicted to it and therefore have a disadvantage to other people. However, if it is a small amount of surgery to "fix" a small thing, then perhaps that person will gain advantage over other people. Furthermore, as citizens i do not feel as if it is our place to do anything about it. It is a personal decision.

How many times have I heard that comment when I've lamented that I'm not smart enough, pretty enough, young enough. And honestly, it's true. We all have strengths. Know what they are, never forget them, and use them -- not just to further yourself personally, but to further the cause of feminism and equality in general.

The increase in plastic surgery, laminates on our teeth, lasik surgery to remove the need for glasses are certainly on the increase.

However, is this any different than men and women who were sent to the "right schools," were members of the country club, and moved in the right social circles? It's a given that our society is obsessed with looks, but does this truly impact feminism and its struggle?

I'm not certain that I'm totally in agreement that plastic or cosmetic procedures are not simply just another roadblock.

Someone is always going to be faster, quicker, smarter, better in math, know the right person, etc. In my mind, the key is in acknowledging this will always occur. And in the next ten years, it will be something newer to make us younger, more attractive, etc.

Knowledge that challenges exist and finding a way to deal with them, that is and has been the struggle. It's one of the reasons that women need to create networks (social, business, and interpersonal) to act as a counterbalance to the extraneous "noise" surrounding the movement and changes they are working toward.

I think it's certainly safe to say that programs like Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover have contributed to the increase in the amount of people having cosmetic surgery in recent years. I always thought that in the past, it was only the wealthy who had plastic surgery. But that has changed. As we see more and more "average" people having these operations, it seems more within our own reach. We can relate to the characters, and we figure, 'if they can have that fixed, i can have that fixed."

I'd also like to comment on the 'competition' that was mentioned above. The way I see it, if a woman is having plastic surgery to attract more men, then she is also competing with other women. She's making herself more look better, so that the men will look at her and not the other women. Likewise, if a woman is doing it to compete with other women, then she will automatically get more attention from men, most likely. So you can't really do one without the other. It is definitely a competition. Even a woman who says that she's doing it to make herself feel better, isn't really. She wouldn't have to make herself feel better if there wasn't such a competition among women. Everyone compares their own selves to the other women, and that's what makes them feel badly about themselves in the first place.

I think that we can all agree that appearance is an important part of our society. But plastic surgery is just the tip of the iceburg- what about a woman who wears a push-up bra or even makeup? Can you be a third wave feminist and still try to seek out men's attention in conventional ways? And what do you think these beauty/body image obsessions accomplish? What happens when we have a society of women rumming around wondering if they have on enough lip gloss? How do you think third wave feminists might respond?

I think that the obsession with the ideal “perfect” body does make it hard for women that choose “natural” for their bodies. I think it is absolutely crazy that sixteen and eighteen year old girls are having breast augmentation because I don’t think these girls have even fully matured before the run off to the surgeon so they can look as good as a friend that just happens to be an “early” bloomer. I feel that breast augmentation is perfectly fine in some cases. It might be done because a woman had a breast removed due to cancer or a thyroid problem or that a breast reduction was necessary because of back problems. When health issues are concerned I think that it is wonderful that there are choices out there for the women that are dealing with the trials and unfortunates of life. However, when a young girl is looking for attention by enhancing her bust size, I DO feel that is degrading for all women because it is, in fact, showing that if we are not accepted for who and what we are then we will change and transform ourselves into what society wants us to be.
Due to the fact that we live in a free country, women and men are given the right to do what they want with their own bodies and it would be wrong for that to ever be taken away. I think as a society the only thing that we could really do to stop this epidemic is to stop trying to compete with one another and show that what is on the inside is way more important than the outside.
Shows like Dr. 90210 make plastic surgery look simple without complications and disasters that might occur. Maybe if women and men would see that problems do arise and that a simple breast enhancement might cause problems that can eventually lead to death or disfigurement, more women might apt to say “hold the scalpel” and think twice about what they are doing. Starting with young children, we also need to teach more about inter-beauty but realistically: it is a big, big world and it will take a lot of convincing to change the minds of so many.

As mentioned in a previous blog, our culture seems to be obsessed with breasts for various reasons. Therefore, I dont think there's anything we can do about it. Maybe its just a trend and T's and A's will grow outta stlye! But for now, i believe more women and men are getting plastic surgery to live up to the media's expectations of "perfection". If women get these surgeries in order to feel better about themselves then i dont think it would be degrading to their self respect and dignity. However, if they get these surgeries done to live up to someone elses expectations or to look better than others than in the long run it can be degrading. Is it fair to look better than others when in reality you are fake? Perhaps not, but many things in life are unfair. We just have to live with them. As citizens theres not much we can do. Its all a matter of personal beliefs about subjects as such. If one chooses to do so, then they will face the consequences, regardless of male or female.

Is it possible that women who are against plastic surgery have conflicting reasons? We say we're against cosmetic surgery because it isn't natural, you're changing what you look like to be better than others, or to please men. But could it be that we're really against it because of the whole women vs. women competition? We don't want other women getting ahead of us...we want a fair playing field. I know it's horrible...but its just a thought

Plastic surgery to make oneself look better than everyone else is not right, but if a women wants to change something little about her body that makes herself feel better about herself than I think its ok as long as they are not doing it for someone else or changing everything about themselves to look like someone else. They should still want to be an individual and be themselves. No it is not fair that attractive people have an advantage but the world is never fair and that will never change. Just because you can't succeed as a runway model doesn't mean you aren't beautiful and you cant be even more successful than the models at something else. I believe that attractiveness only gets you so far in life and intelligence is the only thing that stays with you and makes you go ahead in life.

I feel that more men and women are getting plastic surgery because of the attitudes of people in America today. There is no stigma about vanity anymore, people aren’t embarrassed about being self involved or completely self-centered. The majority of media and the public have an attitude of “your ok, I’m ok! Who is to say what is good or bad?” which leads to people being able to explain away any selfish or vain decision. With this attitude people now feel they owe it to themselves to look better than they were born to be. People have completely taken on a mindset that to alter the way you look to be better than someone else is alright, and that what matters is image, nothing else. Men and women are getting more plastic surgery because there is more room for vanity in America and the public accepts this.

It is hard for me to put into words exactly what I want to say about this. I think plastic surgery is absolutely ridiculous. The thought of getting cut open and having things sucked out and put in and moved around makes me pretty sick. More and more people are getting surgeries done because of the media and I think it is really sad. The media is drilling it into our heads that we NEED to be perfect. That life is about being the most beautiful, looking the best, having a better life than your neighbor, etc etc ETC. It is all about doing things to be better than someone else. There is absolutely nothing fair about having an advantage over someone because of appearance. The fact that that even happens is pretty depressing. People need to be seen for who they are and what qualities they have and what they can positively contribute to society. Not for how big their tits are or if they have amazing abs and pecs. Unfortunately, I don't think there really is anything we, as citizens, can do. I mean obviously we could rally or petition or do something along those lines...but the reality of that doing anything is pretty non-existant I think.