SA 335 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf, Commodification

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SA 335
• Professor: Wendy Chan

Document Summary

Even though the female and male body are very similar. Western society sees two discrete sexes and two distinguishable genders (ex. sex/gender distinction) Ideology and power differentials are hidden in these categories of male and female. Also found in a whole range of other psychological differences (tall vs. short) The body is a cultural product- how we see the body offers us a blueprint for the kind of social and political life we imagine possible or desirable. Social-historical processes and circumstances shape ideas about the biological body. In the past, the body was used as evidence that there were moral and social differences between men and women. The body as a site of social control with many rules and regulations. The female body is a key site of control by experts. Needs i(cid:374)ter(cid:448)e(cid:374)tio(cid:374) a(cid:374)d used to dis(cid:272)redit (cid:449)o(cid:373)e(cid:374) (cid:858)(cid:373)edi(cid:272)alizatio(cid:374)(cid:859) of (cid:449)o(cid:373)e(cid:374)(cid:859)s (cid:271)odies. Women spend more time on their bodies than men.