Has feminism unwittingly normalised cosmetic surgery?

[Boiler 45,670]

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p080yw3z/has-feminism-unwittingly-normalised-cosmetic-surgery-

Feminism argues that women have autonomy over their own bodies; and in recent times there has been a growing number of young people pursuing surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Therefore, should we consider cosmetic alterations part of a new age of 'self-love'? Or is feminist ideology being misinterpreted?

 

I had not appreciated how common this is.

 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

It is indeed a paradox that we have more attention toward anti-fat shaming, normal bodies, etc., yet I see more people regularly with obvious "enhancements" than ever. One of my ex-coworkers, a buddy, she had lip fillers.. one day she had an allergic reaction likely to the garbage put in her lip, caused it to swell up, she wore one of those bandannas over her face to work that day. Since we talked about lots of stuff, I asked her WHY. Oh it was a gift to myself and my ex liked it. Except its obvious to everyone its fake. What's the point? I never got to the bottom of it, but it is of great interest.. maybe I can make friends with higher-ups in the cosmetics industry who deal with marketing strategy since they understand these psychographics better than most. The sad part is she's such a sweetheart (not the stuck up bimbos one would expect), and it was hard not to feel bad for her.

 

There's some obvious need for cosmetic surgery.. burns, a woman having vastly different sizes between one ####### and the other,  dramatic weight loss and excess skin, and so on. But overwhelmingly, it's done for illogical reasons. Of all the social marketing blitzes of old, maybe western society needs one of them for this, and not just to pointlessly do the "don't shame them!" nonsense, something with actual results. People really need to understand they get one body, accept and love themselves, and not to ruin it by doing all this stuff.

[Boiler 45,670]

I do not think I know anybody who is into this sort of thing, but maybe I am not paying enough attention.

 

I suppose it can be seen essentially as a continuation of a muti billion cosmetics industry, you get to a certain point and the pain will not help so you have to get out the knife.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

I like natural boobage. Not really into the fake ones, or lots of makeup, or really care what the wear. Its all for other wimmines 

[yuna628 9,680]

Well both men and women frequently have cosmetic surgery so it's not just purely a woman thing.

And for many such procedures are necessary for a variety of health and physical reasons. Even those that may need breast reductions, a nose job because of not being able to breathe properly, removal of skin after weight loss, after cancer surgeries, or even minor plastic surgeries that you see on Dr. Pimple Popper. My dad has had to have reconstructive surgery twice due to skin cancer. He always horrified how he looks after some of the more aggressive Mohs procedures, but the followup to the plastic surgeon and you can't even tell.

 

Fundamentally though, some people are often very unhappy with themselves psychologically and emotionally... so they seek out ways to change themselves to perhaps spark that happiness and self-confidence once more. Society through the beauty industry aggressively promotes such ideas to both men and women equally to look like a 'perfect' and 'better self'. This starts out especially as kids. Young girls are told their breast growth isn't enough to be loved by anyone or they feel 'less womanly', your lips are too thin, your nose is too big, your hips and thighs too large. Your teeth aren't right so get braces or veneers, they aren't white enough so bleach them. Japanese and Korean beauty culture can be even more aggressive in such standards (and it's been that way throughout history for context). Hollywood and fashion furthers the push to be perfect, resulting in both men and women having eating disorders. The old are told not to look too old, the young must look older, and the middle-aged must look young. The message is - ''no one will accept or love you if you don't do X".

 

While it may give some a boost of confidence, I think many may have just ultimately benefited from regular therapy. To me, plastic surgery is not a form of self love nor does it have much to do with bodily autonomy - unless you consider woman who merely have it to please a partner. If it is a woman's right to feel ''empowered'' in her body, I should ask, is she feeling empowered truly to herself, or is it merely to be accepted by everyone else around her?

[Boiler 45,670]

The article said it was not purely women, 92% was the figure mentioned.

 

And the most popular is breast augmentation, not sure how many blokes go for that.

[yuna628 9,680]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

The article said it was not purely women, 92% was the figure mentioned.

 

And the most popular is breast augmentation, not sure how many blokes go for that.

Has there been a study regarding the reasons for breast augmentation? I think we might find out, at least in some cases, that women do it under societal pressure and or pressure from a partner.

 

It's hard sometimes for the small boobed ladies as it is for the big boobed ones.

Edited January 23, 2020 by yuna628

[Boiler 45,670]

Hmm, well I do not feel qualified to really comment, NB it seems may had undertaken some studies.

 

Extra rep for bringing in the Patriarchy.

[TBoneTX 45,540]

Body-fixing is apparently rather prevalent amongst Colombianas, for one group.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I do not think I know anybody who is into this sort of thing, but maybe I am not paying enough attention.

 

I suppose it can be seen essentially as a continuation of a muti billion cosmetics industry, you get to a certain point and the pain will not help so you have to get out the knife.

 

  There's a story in several of the local papers this last week about a teenage girl who is in a vegetative state after one of these cosmetic procedures. The doctor had his license revoked by the state for waiting 5 hours to call 911 after administering too much anesthesia. 

[laylalex 7,293]

My mom has been a good role model for me in loving what I have, while still taking care of myself. She's 65 this year, and is trim and in good shape and health through a lifetime of healthy, balanced eating and exercise. (And sunblock. ) She has never had plastic surgery, but she has had regular chemical peels on her face and some laser resurfacing. When she thinks she looks a little tired or grim, she gets some light fillers in her marionette lines and between her eyebrows, which she tops up every so often. She has never looked "done" -- she just looks well-rested and healthy. She admits it's vain, but if it makes her feel better and it's a small thing on top of the overall good habits she has, I don't see that as a problem. Never the lips, and never anything that was more than an injection. I figure I'll probably do the same things -- just take it as it comes, but take care of myself.

 

My sister denies having anything done, but I think she just has a derm with a very light hand. Her lips are a just a tad plump, but it's so natural looking, I can't tell. She has regular facials (as do I, nothing wrong with it) and peels as well, but she's in the business, so I get why she does what she thinks she has to do. It's dumb, but entertainment can be cruel, even for people not in front of the camera. 

 

Ultimately, I think if a woman or a man wants to modify their body, it's up to them. This goes for tattoos, piercings, etc. There are ways of doing it that are safer than others. I prefer looking natural but I understand others have different preferences.

[Boiler 45,670]

I have topped my tan up over the last couple of days, sun and snow will do that.

 

My problem is that the odd time I look ion the mirror, to shave is the usual one, I have a hard time recognising what I see and not something I wish to revisit if I do not have to.

 

One of those weird Welcome to America things, I get tanned more in winter than summer.

[laylalex 7,293]

I hope you have been wearing sunscreen or using adequate sun gear, @Boiler. 

 

As part of my Daily Mail updating service, here is a very recent article about what a Love Island contestant had to do to counteract the effects of sun damage she says was brought on by being forbidden from wearing a cap: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7916551/Love-Islands-Laura-Anderson-corrects-pigmentation-facial-peel.html

[Boiler 45,670]

2 minutes ago, laylalex said:

I hope you have been wearing sunscreen or using adequate sun gear, @Boiler. 

 

As part of my Daily Mail updating service, here is a very recent article about what a Love Island contestant had to do to counteract the effects of sun damage she says was brought on by being forbidden from wearing a cap: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7916551/Love-Islands-Laura-Anderson-corrects-pigmentation-facial-peel.html

I am stuck in the Brewery, roads closed so hunkering down. I grew up when the stuff they sold you was for getting a tan not preventing one. I think. And unless it burns I do not care.

 

This peel thingy, I am not sure what it entails but pretty sure I do not want to find out.

 

I assume the photo with the freckles is before? I thought that looked better.

 

[laylalex 7,293]

There are worse places to be stuck than a brewery, like Stevenage.

 

Chemicals peels aren't painful -- they might sting a little, but they sound worse than they are. I had one done last week when I thought I was looking a little grey. Nothing as intense as this woman's work -- the one I had (a glycolic peel) they basically swab some solution on your clean face, you wait 2 minutes, they take it off and put a serum and moisturizer on. It gets dead skin off effectively and without the physical irritation of a scrub. 

 

I also freckle, but I wouldn't get a serious, in-depth peel just for that. 

 

Speaking of weird places to freckle/tan, Alex got a tan (for him) in London this summer when he was there and it was hot and sunny, and it was grey and blah in the Bay Area. Go figure.