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Why Can't We Look at Real Images of Women?

Wed, 03/25/2009 - 12:13
Submitted by Carlin Ross

I can't get over this image!  On the left, is a beautiful photo of Kim Kardashian.  I met her in Miami and I have to say that she is breath taking.  Her skin is a beautiful light mocha, her curves stop traffic, and she's all of 5'5''.  Add thick, dark hair to the mix and you have an exceptional woman.  On the left, is the photoshopped image where she's smoothed out and lightened up.

So why do "they" (and I say "they" because I'm not sure who makes the photoshop decisions.  I'll assume that it's the editors-at-large) feel that we must lighten, smooth out, and create plastic bodies for our young women to emulate?  We know that people respond more strongly to images of models who look like them; meaning, they're more likely to buy whatever shlock product they're trying to sell.  We have the success of the Dove campaign.  I just don't know when our culture is going to become comfortable with real bodies.

Sex, Politics & More Sex

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Smoothed out and unrealistic.

Nina's picture
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 15:36
Nina

I get particularly frustrated about how they edit pictures to so-called 'perfection'.

Being 18 I am of a generation that knows little or no different to this, and as a result, I can easily see how teenage girls get influenced by said images.

Boys see the images, thinking that these women are naturally like this (they all KNOW they have been enhanced, but theres still a certain level of denial), and then they make small comments amongst friends about loving x part of a woman, and hating women with - oh I don't know - a slightly chubby tummy? - Women start to think there is something wrong with them. Apologies to men here, I know you're not all bad! The majority are not fussy - as with women - but by listening to boys with these ideals, as well as the added pressure from the media, girls - and boys dare I say it - feel pressured into becoming one of these unrealistic bodies.

Love curves, love skinny, love the human body as it is. There is no right or wrong - I cannot say women should be curvy, for that leaves out the women who are naturally slim, nor can I say that everyone should be slim.

The body is beautiful in all its forms, and younger generations need to realise this. (Perhaps everyone should realise this)

 

I completely agree, and I

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 10:21
fem85

I completely agree, and I just want to say thank you Nina for saying that not all women should be curvy- bc I am unfortunately naturally tiny everywhere and have no curves whatsoever and have felt completely masculinated and treated as not a woman in this society for it. So I wanted to thank you for acknowledging all body types.

Ctrl L

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 01:30
Anonymous (not verified)

It always amazed me how much they change people in photoshop. One person I could never get over was Beyonce. She goes from light to dark depending on what audience the magazine is for.

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