Women and the Knife Flashcards
How are women defined attractive?
Attractiveness is based on men’s perceptions rather than self-determined
How is plastic surgery viewed in Western Society?
It is normalized due to socialization of women to accept it
How have women been traditionally regarded and taught to regard their bodies?
As a locus of power to be enhanced (particularly if they are young, beautiful, and fertile
What is meant by the paradox of individuality vs. conformity?
Women believe they are self-electing to undergo surgery as an individual choice but they are actually conforming to norms of beauty and heterosexuality
What is meant by the paradox of liberation into colonization?
Women are transcending the limitations of genetics and “making the most of yourself” but are doing so for the approval of other
In seeking independence they are becoming more dependent on male assessment
What is meant by the paradox of coercion vs. volunteering?
- women believe they are voluntarily deciding to undergo surgery
- double-pathologizing of women’s bodies (ideology that women’s bodies are naturally deformed and can be fixed) = pressure for women to “choose” surgery
How is beauty a commodity?
By being technologically achievable and making youth and beauty available to those who can afford it
Why is plastic surgery problematic?
The ideological practices that frame the cultural world contain racist, anti-Semetic, eugenicist, and ageist dimension of oppression
Why would a woman choose to undergo cosmetic surgery?
Women see their beauty as a form of empowerment and value it, they’d rather risk death–or be dead– than not beautiful
