Sunday, October 2, 2011
Blogging Assignment Week 7
I found the discussion we had on the changing perceptions of beauty in society interesting and so I read an article about the how the images that society views as beautiful changes over time because of the influence from the media. This article describes how what was meant to be advertisements and images that replicate everyday people have turned into subconscious messages which tell us how to define and perceive beauty. It even references Sandro Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus' painting which we discussed in class, mentioning how this would no longer be considered beautiful as it was in 1400. Now Venus would be seen as a plus-size model, in present day women are expected to be thin and even go the lengths of plastic surgery to achieve the expected figure. The media defines beauty for society and people go far to appear like those considered beautiful. Our perception of beauty has come a long time, viewing very different things as beautiful: thin figures, big busts and butts, plump lips, voluminous hair etc.
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Blogging Week 7: Rebecca Iloulian
ReplyDeleteToday, I went to a restaurant called The Griddle for brunch. I was with four other friends, all of whom were also girls. When we got to the host stand to put our name down, the host (a man) said to us "hey babes", then proceeded to touch our shoulders and/backs as he led us outside to wait for a table. Every time he spoke to us he kept saying "baby" or "babe" or some other name like so. It was really interesting to me how he said that so casually, because in my opinion i don't think men should say that to women casually or without purpose. It could be viewed as offensive and as not being appropriate for a man to say those things to a woman or touch her back without really knowing her. I feel if the roles were reversed and it had been a female hostess seating male guests, it would be much more uncomfortable for her to call them baby or babe. Why is it more normal/accepted for men to call women these names, yet women don't have the same ability? It was actually uncomfortable for this likely 30-something host to speak to me and my friends like we are little play things. It was gross, and inappropriate in my opinion and i don't think men should have the right to say those things to anyone, especially if women don't have that exact same ability.
Hey Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteSorry for your awkward brunch experiance. Yes, I agree and I feel for you because it happened to me before. You guys should've said something to the host, that was very inappropriate and simply disrespectful.
One time, one waiter was very friendly with me, called me something similar thinking he is being cute or whatever. I told him that I felt offended and discriminated against, he turned pale and my dinner was free.
I refuse to take it and feel uncomfortable, so don't be afraid to voice your feelings. It is very nice of you to share this with us. Thank you.
Alex
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteYour restaurant experience sounds like something that may have happened years and decades ago, but surprisingly it does still happen today; and I agree, it is appalling. I had a somewhat similar experience with a student here in one of the first weeks of school. I said something and he said "don't worry about it dollface". When I told him not to call me that, he called me a feminist and said that he hated feminists. I feel like this kind of exchange happens way to often where a male will do/say something sexist that may have been acceptable long ago and if a female tries to defend herself, she will be given the negative stereotypes of a feminist. I wonder if this is what stopped you from speaking out against the host at the restaurant on top of being uncomfortable.