What constitutes beauty?

The youtube video "Killing us Softly" is a short clip on image, and how its stereotyped by the media. Advertising tells us that whats most important about women is "how we look," and strive to "surround us with the image of ideal beauty." The media emphasizes the amount of time and money we spend on achieving this ideal look of beauty, and the guilt we feel when we fail at this task. The truth is, at the end of the day, no matter how hard we try, we will always fail at beauty considering the unrealistic standards we are expected to live up to in order to achieve this goal." This particular ideal beauty is non existent, because its based on the unrealisticconcept of perfections and flawlessness. If the beauty depicted by the film is based on photoshop and is unrealistic, than how do we define true beauty? What constitutes beauty and what does it has to offer?

Growing up in the community I live in, a strong emphasis is placed on image and appearance. In my world especially, its all about being the skinniest and the prettiest. People go to crazy extents such as plastic surgery and botox in order to reach these 'standards' of flawlessness. The role of the media in shaping the norm is apparent, explaining the reasons for cosmetic surgeries, low self esteem, eating disorders, and other psychological problems alike.

Images like these ones shown in "Killing us Softly" constitute the medias depiction of perfection. No matter what the product is (body wash, coffeebeans, clothing...), the media always finds a way to gear back to the traditional caucasian half dressed women with the most perfectly airbrushed body, in order to sell their product. Women view these images as reality, and strive to reach this sort of impossible perfection. Men as well, see these images, and think that every girl is supposed to look like this, adding to the stress of women to gain and maintain an image like the ones shown in the media.

Advertisements also succeed in stereotyping the relationship between the male and female, and their place in society. When posing on the same billboard, the same magazine, or filmed in the same commercial, the male is always dominant over the female. Females are shown at a lesser heirarchy than themale, instilling the notion that men are stronger, and have control over women. This male/female relationship objectifies women even more, leading to further problems within society.

Society doesn't realize that this image of perfection is constructed. Its nonexistent, because there is no such thing as being perfect. It is the flaws, and nothing more, that make a person different, constituting real beauty. The mole on the side of ones lip, and the cleft in ones chin is what should be seen as beautiful, as opposed to a flaw that needs to be fixed so one could fit in with societies stereotype.

The media doesnt appreciate us females for who we are. Through advertising, the female body is viewed as an object that needs to be perfected constantly. For the better good of the female gender, I believe advertisements should start portraying reality. Yes, of course sex sells, but women deserve to be more than a symbol of sex, an object of desire, and an airbrushed billboard poster. They deserve to be and feel beautiful not only aesthetically, but in nature as well, radiating their TRUE flawless grace, and charm.

Since advertising has the power to tell us who we are, and how we look, I believe advertising should be taken to different levels through portraying US within REALITY. Instill a sense of acceptance and lovingness within ourselves and our society through the media can successfully eliminate stereotypes, and change perceptions.

SEX SELLS