Sociological Images

Essay: Sociological Images
By: Chloé Reiss

Media Saturation and Discrimination

A couple of centuries ago, soft pale white skin was fashionable, but over time the vogue has lead our modern society favoring tan skin. This change is only one example of how the mentalities of people through out time are influenced by appearance, air, and fashion. Aside from skin pigmentation, weight and size are now fore running vanities in today’s society. From pictures in magazines to advertisement on TV, the image of a physical appearance ideal is disseminated and consequently affects a majority of people who feel excluded and judged by the society they live in. Browsing the website, “Sociological Images” I found three entries all related by their subject matter: the repercussions of media saturation on people’s mentalities, pattern of discrimination. Discrimination is “actual behavior, the practice of differential and unequal treatment of other groups of people” (Parillo, 105).
Many studies have proven the impact of the fashion and advertising industry on women, which is becoming a crucial issue in our modern society. Beauty has been assimilated to various specific criteria such as the primary of weight, with perfect soft skin etc. Most advertisement diffused by the medias expose images of models that have been fully retouched to hide all imperfection (rolls of fat, rashes, pimples, circles under their eyes etc.) The notion of natural is lost and pressure is given to women who feel rejected by the society they live in and develop complexities and frustration. Psychologists have denounced this phenomena as the origin of many eating disorders leading to depressions, anorexia etc. The first entry I chose, “The Role of Photography in Fat Acceptance”, points out the importance of tolerance and the need of a social change concerning judgmental attitudes of a majority towards overweight people. The author Lisa presents the “Adiposivity Project” which offers 324 pictures of fat women who feel comfortable with their bodies. This website illustrates the fat acceptance movement fighting against unfairness and discrimination that most overweight people suffer from in the Western culture.
The second entry, “Ralph Lauren apologizes for super-skinny photoshopped model” is another example of negative influence for young women and their perception of the ideal body. According to the information provided, the famous clothing company Ralph Lauren fired a size 4 model for being ‘too fat’ and not fitting in the clothes anymore. The scandal denounced the excessive restrictions on sizes that models nowadays need to conform to and stressed the extent of it. In this case it also puts in evidence the discrimination that the model is victim of, by not being presented to the public for what she is in reality. Effectively, Ralph Lauren had to apologize for a picture of the model published in magazine that has been particularly photoshopped. The modifications made on the picture to make the model look even skinnier than she is, appeared to seem absolutely unnatural and immoderate. During an interview, the victim expressed her concerns for young women in Western society who become more and more influenced by model’s pictures they see. She insists on the fact that such leanness is unnatural, unattractive and it should not inspire anyone or make any women envious. However, the effects of such publications remain uncontrollable once accessible to the public. The commentator in the video also mentions the impact it could have on the model’s career due to her new reputation and ‘false appearance’.
In parallel of the idealism of skinny women, a degrading and ignominious image of overweight women is promoted. Women with curve appeared to feel discriminated and negatively judged under false stereotypical prejudices. I found a food commercial for noodles that was published on the website. The short video perfectly illustrates this idea of injustice that most overweight women are facing: “fat women are disgusting- skinny women want you to eat them”. Straightaway, the use of the adjective “fat” in the title does not only convey a negative connotation but also a tone of humiliation. One of the main goal of the advertisement is to encourage people to consume ‘Wai wai noodles” by using the attractiveness and the desire of men for pretty thin women. In the scenario, the main character is sitting at a table about to start eating a bowl of noodles which are represented by obese women floating in hot water. Disgusted and skeptical he is looking at his bowl until one of the women lets out a loud burp. This little detail is determinant and directly insults overweight women. “The Latin word discriminatus, from which the English word is derived, means to divide or distinguish”(Parillo, 105). The discrimination in the scene is obvious when the man finally devours another bowl in which he sees thin elegant and smiling women who give him appetite again.
These three entries demonstrate the immoderation of certain vanities in today’s society. Media saturation and the fashion industry control mentalities of the majority and become main source of discrimination.


Source:

Parrillo, V. (2008). Understanding Race and Ethnic Relations (3ed). Pearsons Education, Inc.

Link 1: http://contexts.org/socimages/2010/01/02/role-of-photography-in-fat-acceptance/

Link 2: http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/10/12/ralph-lauren-apologizes-for-super-skinny-photoshopped-model/#more-14168

Link 3: http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/03/13/fat-women-are-disgusting-skinny-women-want-you-to-eat-them/