Over my Spring Break I observed several issues pertaining to our recent studies in Women Studies.
It’s Spring Break ’09 and seeing that I am not on an exotic island baking in the sun I decided to go on a shopping trip on my one day off of work. I started off in the mall in my town, with a rather small selection of shops. However, the same problem I usually encounter was waiting for me at the door. I can search through piles of clothes, ask the attendants to look in the back for more sizes, and I can even try to squeeze into the extra small to test the waters. But in the end, the clothing sizes that most regular sized women are, are NEVER there. You would think clothing stores would realize that the medium-large sizes always seem to go the fastest and the oversupply of extra smalls would be a good indicator that the average woman isn’t built to be a twig. But every shopping trip and every store visit, it’s the same deal. I fall in love with the shirt, skirt, pants, etc. and what do you know, my size is already sold out.
So I continued on my hunt to find something that fit at another mall. Walking into Forever 21, one of the stores frequented by most girls my age, I get all excited when I look at the manikins wearing the clothes and accessories so well. However, what I have come to find is that a size 0 manikin looks better in a strapless, body-skin tight dress than I do. Why not get models who look more like the a real woman, with hips and a real bottom? What’s the point of faking us out? Now I understand the store’s no return policy. They probably save thousands of dollars that way.
Finally, my last encounter with issues we are currently studying in Women Studies was during the filming of a DVD orientation video for my mother’s work. I was volunteered to be the inappropriately dressed employee. I had to stand in front of a camera and was the product of “Male Gaze”. The camera even had a setting that glided the lens from the feet up . I felt mortified. I guess you really don’t know what ‘the gaze’ feels like until you experience it yourself.
Now that I have studied many issues related the media’s portrayal of the female body, I am able to relate such topics to the outside world and in some cases realize when I am product of my environment.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
That is interesting idea to have manikins that look like regular women instead of unrealistic ones that don't exist. I had a similar experience shopping online. I was looking at american apparel and the women in the clothes were thin and emaciated. I was reading the reviews of the clothes and a lot women responded saying how the clothes look good in the picture but when they put them on they fit in the wrong places. I agree what is the point of deceiving women and making us feel like shit when the shirt doesn't flatter us like the model. what's the point!
ReplyDelete