Meme

           The image I chose to represent the medicalization aspect of reproductive life is of Angelina Jolie. The reason why I chose this particular image is because in the picture above she seems happy, obviously pregnant and proud of it because of where her hand is placed. She also has on the color green, which to me represents natural, Angelina Jolie isn't one of those celebrities that likes to be flashy and this image seems to demonstrate that because of her simplicity in makeup, dress, and hair. With the way that Angelina Jolie carries herself and the contributions she has made to different places and people would imply that she is all about being natural, giving back, and doing things the right way. Angelina Jolie is known for having multiple children some whom were adopted and others whom she gave birth to. A surprising fact to me is that the children she gave birth to were actually born via cesarean sections and this is where society follows suit when it comes to following celebrities footsteps.

            Before cesareans became popular midwives were used to help aid in natural birthing which was the most common method used before the 1950's (Kirk and Okawaza-Rey, 215.)  The medicalization process however seems to dominate our current society and is where Doctor's choose to basically give women only one option. That option is usually having a C-section and the reason why they choose it is because it is extremely convenient for the doctor's and hospitals. This is where celebrities do as the doctors tell them and are unaware of the potential risks they are taking. Because celebrities choose to have their babies via C-sections before a certain date or because it is convenient for them to give birth and instantly have a tummy tuck are the wrong reasons to do so. Women today need to be aware of what options they have when it comes to giving birth, the power of their body, and the benefits of natural birthing.

Kirk, Gwyn , and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives. 5th ed. New York, New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 215-216. Print.

"Angelina Jolie: Pregnant?" Photograph. Webshots. The Films, 27 March, 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://the-films.com/angelina-jolie-pregnant.html>.

Beauty Ideal

         When the words beauty ideal is mentioned, an individual's first thought might be to think of someone who is tall, slender, flawless, and nonetheless gorgeous. But what is the definition of "gorgeous" or "beautiful" and who has the authority to say that there is only one way to define these terms? Fortunately we have the advantage of shaping these images but choose to follow what media already represents to be the beauty ideal. Case in point women are usually trying to achieve a slender image to look like their celebrity idol that is photo shopped on the front cover of people magazine. It is mentioned in the text that with the definition of beauty ideal "the aim is to promote insecurity, self-hatred, and distorted perceptions of size appetite, and attractiveness... ." This I believe is entirely true because having the image that I have of myself and comparing it to what the media says it should be, leaves me judging myself as a person, and usually brings me through these phases that take a toll on me both physically and emotionally. Not only does this happen to me but it plays a major role on most women in today's society, specifically on the upcoming generation of young girls whom are trying to stay up to date on the latest fashion, and making sure that they aren't over 120lbs. The effects however are not only limited to the younger generation but impact those who are young, older, and everything in between.

            What many of us fail to realize is that these images are highly distorted. What I mean by this is that the media chooses to represent people such as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and many other celebrities, and typically "edit" these images, which usually leads to a false interpretation of these celebrities. What I mean by editing these images is that when it comes to photo shoots they do a number of things to get the pictures to look as well as they can by photo shopping it or doing other things with the photos on a computer. With the advancement in today's technology it is amazing the things one can do to enhance images. It is the same when one is watching television or a video online, the celebrities that come out on it are sometimes airbrushed and have pounds of make up on their face/body. Reality is not everyone does this on a day-to-day basis and not everyone should want to do this daily. People should not only stick to one definition when it comes to beauty ideal because everyone is entitled to their own opinion and has a different way of viewing things. So what one might find beautiful another person might find to be just ok. Therefore women and men should not cave into this "toxic cultural environment" that Jean Kilbourne describes as the reason behind undermining girls' self confidence and sense of agency. (208)

Kirk, Gwyn , and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives. 5th ed. New York, New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 207-210. Print.