The social constructionist perspective emphasizes the relationship between communication and culture (page 25). One’s culture greatly influences his or her understanding of the word. Each culture in itself is like a unique little world where meanings are exclusive to that particular culture. Here in America, our idea of beauty is different than in many other countries. We are led to believe that thin and tall body types are ideal for females while even taller and muscular body types are ideal for males. Light skin, full lips, and small noses are amongst other features people are often attracted to. Unfortunately we are led to believe these things when most of them are not realistic. Our unique culture has created these idealistic concepts where the majority of people go along with them.
As for the example of beauty, I think the happiness of our culture is affected negatively. Like I said, much of what is considered beautiful is not realistic. The majority of people fall outside the ‘beautiful’ margin and are oftentimes unhappy because of it.
Oh, think and tall, how commercialized and exploited you have become. It's funny to think that the idea of beauty used to mean you have some meat on your bones, because you were able to feed yourself. Now, showing you DON'T feed yourself is the trend. Anyway, I digress.
ReplyDeleteI think beauty, or what we see as beauty, is a great communication example. People spend hours and hundreds of dollars trying to make themselves look "beautiful," or to communicate that they are....well, that is a very good question. What are they trying to communicate? Those not in a relationship probably are trying to say "I am available, and would be a good mate." However, what message are those who ARE in a relationship trying to send? "I would be a good mate...but I'm already taken." Sometimes it would be best to consider what and how you are communicating, rather than spending hours in front of the mirror.
I think beauty is a great example of an idea we talk about in our culture all the time that is not always the talked about the same way in other cultures. As Trenholm states, "If everyone around us talks about the world in a certain way, we are likely to think of the world in that way and fail to question whether we are seeing things accurately." If this is the case then what needs to happen is people need to start talking about beauty in a different way than is going on now. I totally agree with you when you said "much of what is considered beautiful is not realistic. The majority of people fall outside the ‘beautiful’ margin and are oftentimes unhappy because of it." Maybe if everyone talks enough about what they think is actually beautiful, we wouldn't have anorexic 13-year olds or people going into debt for plastic surgery.
ReplyDeleteWe in America do have a fascination with what the American media calls beauty. To be considered beautiful you have to bow down to what some would call Hollywood’s “impossible standards of beauty”. In other cultures they don’t have as same standards of beauty. But young girls in this country will do almost anything to achieve this standard. But by becoming anorexic or bulimic these young girls believe that they could achieve their “so called” goals. But they don’t think about the long term consequences of their actions. These girls are only thinking about what US society deems as beautiful. Not about their own well being.
ReplyDelete