HOLY HELL!!! When I read the Abby Friedrich article I almost burst out laughing. First thing I saw was “The consumer isn’t a moron. She is your wife” but surprisingly enough that is not the part of the article that I found the most humorous. When I came upon the part when Friedrich claims that this scantily jean clad woman was the standard for women in our society I laughed.
These ‘hot’ girls in ads are not the standard. Everyone knows that, so why try and fool yourselves in believing them to be the standard. These advertisement models are not every guys’ dream girl for no reason. These models are unattainable for both guys and girls. So if anything they are not the standard, they are the “Ideal/ Dream”.
You may think I’m a dick but seriously, if you are self conscious because you don’t look like an advertisement model, then give your head a shake. Maybe 2% of the population has ‘model looks’. How can you justify naming these few people the standard. If anything they are the deviation.
So they have beautiful faces. I’m fine with my average face. So they have rock hard abs. I’m fine with my average midsection. So they are really really ridiculously good looking and have sex with other really really ridiculously good looking people. I’m ok with th…ok so I’m not ok with that. But honestly whatever. The majority of the population will never look as gorgeous as these models, but for me I can see a perfectly beautiful girl without her being the so-called ‘model figure’. The majority of people have a couple features that are absolutely breath-taking, but models just have an abundance of these. Thank the genes/jeans for that.
As in the article, I understand that adolescents may not have the maturity to discern between these false standards and it is important to try and make the reality behind these ads clear. My problem is with the so-called mature adults still having problems because they don’t look like the people in the ads. These models may only have one thing going for them(although probably not always). Their looks. They could be dumb as fuck. Would you give up your life to be this beautiful individual that was bordering the knowledge of a 4 yr old? I wouldn’t.
It’s important to dream and to attempt to achieve your dreams. That’s what makes a person successful. Degrading yourself because you can’t always achieve your goals is dumb and irrational. Dreams are Dreams because they are doubtful to be achieved. It is important to remember this when looking at advertisement models. They are not the standard to live your life by, for the majority of people they are the ‘dream body’ or ‘dream guy/girl’. Therefore don’t get down on yourself for not achieving the dream or ideal. It’s only human.
I guess I’m what you might call one of the so-called mature adults who still have issues about their looks. I’m sure you believe what you’re saying (at least I hope you do), and I’m also sure you mean well (again, at least I hope you do), but if you grow up being told by every overt and not-so-overt mass message form that you can’t be right or happy or something unless you’re perfect, at some point that will penetrate.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect and I know it, and I’m okay with that — consciously. But my subconscious doesn’t always fall into line as easily. I’m generally a self-confident and happy woman, but sometimes there are subconscious demons that raise their ugly heads in the dead of night.
Unfortunately, no matter how many times my parents told me it didn’t matter or it was unrealistic or just plain unobtainable/unattainable, it never resonated as clearly as the opinions of my peers and the media at large. As stated by Jhally, we no longer have a culture outside our advertising, and if it’s so important, then obviously a part of us is going to realise that and treat the information from that source as such.
I’m glad you’re normal. I’m glad you’re realistic. Or at least that you try to convince yourself to be. Maybe I’m just a cynic (no, actually, I really am), but I don’t think the majority of the male of the species really think the way you do…maybe I just don’t give you guys enough credit. But that happens with a lot of segments of society with me. Oops, too cynical. After so much ad-bombardment. Imagine that.