So, this morning there is all sorts of Oscar buzz! Though I admit that I am by no means a fashionista, I have never understood the red carpet ranking. As I got on the Internet this morning, I saw nothing about who actually won Oscars, but only an article on best- and worst-dressed. Within the article, actors and actresses were ranked from A to F. Who in the world does these rankings? I rarely agree with the rankings and find nearly all the gowns to be beautiful. How can you not look good in a gown that is worth more than my car right?
For instance, I think Anne Hathaway looks beautiful in this simple classic pink gown. The picture doesn't show, but the dress did have more of an open back (something Hollywood rarely frowns on). She looks gorgeous! The article that I read gave her a D+. P.S. who cares what anyone thinks about the way she looks?! If she likes what she is wearing, who has a right to say anything about it? What is even more disturbing is that within the same article there were two children present at the Oscars that were ranked for their dress. Luckily, one got an A and one got an A-, but how sick is that? From the moment you step into this world, you are scrutinized for the way you look, no matter what your age. This causes incredible pressure on women. Here is a video that was in a presentation given during our NEDAW week here on campus recently. This video highlights the distorted concepts on beauty in our society.
Creepy right? It's the truth. Not only movie stars, but women all together (and now more men) are held to and unreachable standard. Did anyone else notice how average looking this model was when she first walked in. She had imperfections on her skin and she looked just like you or I walking down the street. What they do to her is not real. We are competing with computer graphics and editing. Most disturbing of all is that this influence is reaching girls at a younger and younger age.
This video always deeply disturbs me. The truth is, we should be just as sad that adult women are exposed to this media as we are that young girls are exposed to it. Let's change this, ladies! How, you ask? Be average! Be you! Be unique! Leave the house without make-up. Let your gut hang over your pants with out sucking in or holding something in front of your stomach. Don't clean your dirty house before people come over. Laugh about mistakes you make. Don't talk about body image in front of other women or your daughters! If we let our guard down, we make other women comfortable to do the same. When we focus so hard on our body, we end up neglecting what is inside of it. Let's fight it, ladies! We are strong and worthy of much more.