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Subject: "Foot Binding and Cosmetic Surgery" Previous topic | Next topic
Nettrice
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Fri Mar-18-05 08:26 AM

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"Foot Binding and Cosmetic Surgery"
Fri Mar-18-05 08:27 AM by Nettrice

  

          

One of the girls I mentor told me that if she had money she would elect to have cosmetic surgery. It is no wonder. Television has plenty of shows that feature women (and some men) who will go to all lengths to mold their bodies or parts of their bodies into a "beauty" standard, some to an extreme (Jocelyne Wildenstein or Michael Jackson): http://www.askmen.com/fashion/austin/23_fashion_style.html. More in the case of women than men, cosmetic surgery is supposed to make us more desirable, more able to marry, and have a higher social status. To my little sister, the ticket out of her current circumstances may be surgery. Of course this is crazy but I needed to find examples to show her how crazy it is.

Last night, I saw a show on Nature channel that documented the process of foot binding that was commonplace less than 100 years ago:

"Foot binding was more than a fashion statement, it was a way of life for about one billion women as well as the men around them. It took much more than laws and protests to bring foot binding to an end. Foot binding had higher consequences, greater appeal, and is more desirable than any other practice women implemented to be beautiful in history. It cannot be seen as a simple fashion statement. It was part of the society, the roots being buried under many parts of Chinese culture. It had roots in making a woman more desirable, marriageability, and higher social status. Foot binding not only crippled the women who went through the process but as well as crippled women in China for centuries. Being crippled by foot binding, they had such a little role in the government. It was a custom that started out to define beauty but ended up defining the way the society was." - http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/History/China/04/hutchins/hutchins.htm

If you read to whole article, you will find that men played a critical role in perpetuating the practice of foot binding. Today, in the medical and media industries, cosmetic surgery is done mostly by men...to women. At the top of many guy's lists of women who are most desirable are women who obviously had cosmetic surgery. Star Jones gets a tummy tuck (and other work done) and snags a husband. There are plenty of sites that show the before and after of many women in entertainment and the media.

What message does all this send the average girl? Or boy? Does the practice of elective cosmetic surgery play a role in maintaining sexism?

<--- Blame this lady for Nutty.

  

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Foot Binding and Cosmetic Surgery [View all] , Nettrice, Fri Mar-18-05 08:26 AM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
Footbinding is disturbing, but it's part of a greater
Mar 18th 2005
1
Very disturbing
Mar 18th 2005
2
Sexism???
Mar 18th 2005
3
Most definately
Mar 18th 2005
4
      aiight...thanks for the clarity
Mar 18th 2005
7
           oh, so ultimately women are stupid.
Mar 27th 2005
11
                Nope...just conditioned
Mar 27th 2005
15
isnt this a sign of female independence?
Mar 18th 2005
5
The article had a good point
Mar 18th 2005
6
you shouldn't have to define beauty by altering yourself.
Mar 26th 2005
8
      That's not how it is...
Mar 27th 2005
14
RE: isnt this a sign of female independence?
Mar 26th 2005
9
same song - different generation...
Mar 27th 2005
10
It seems more widespread now...
Mar 27th 2005
16
Tell her to look at the overt martyrhood (SELF-destruction)
Mar 27th 2005
12
She's only 13
Mar 27th 2005
13
      STOP!! you're scaring the hell out of me...
Mar 27th 2005
17
      Fear doesn't work
Mar 27th 2005
18
      First thought...Ani DiFranco's lyrics
Mar 28th 2005
19
      RE: First thought...Ani DiFranco's lyrics
Mar 28th 2005
20
      what other people do to you ain't your dirty laundry...
Mar 28th 2005
40
           I agree
Mar 28th 2005
45
                They're not Objects. I understand what you're saying.
Mar 28th 2005
47
                I'm really enjoying this thread. FOOT=FUCK!!!! in that sensing
Mar 28th 2005
48
      RE-->GUILT TRIPS: guilty confession will not be accepted nor demanded!
Mar 28th 2005
24
      ALL MEN ARE MALE CHAUVANIST PIGS (hyperbole sensors 'ON')
Mar 28th 2005
25
           People may misunderstand this
Mar 28th 2005
27
           ADOlESCENTS only want to fight and fuck
Mar 28th 2005
31
           I don't support any kind of "ism"
Mar 28th 2005
34
                excess feminine energy is what is called "EVIL" and about -ism/sysytems
Mar 28th 2005
49
                     Anything in excess can be
Mar 28th 2005
50
                          the words I use are Important (supressing laughter)
Mar 29th 2005
54
                               RE: the words I use are Important (supressing laughter)
Mar 29th 2005
56
           right
Mar 28th 2005
51
           you're quick chris...
Mar 29th 2005
52
                Who's not nuts???? The JUDGEMENTAL JUDGE, who is nuts but
Mar 29th 2005
55
      Fear is a CHOICE, BUT IT IS NOT A GODDAMN FUCKING OPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mar 28th 2005
23
           You can't run from fear
Mar 28th 2005
28
      STOP DUMPING SEXUAL SHAME AND GUILT OVER WOMEN!!!!
Mar 28th 2005
22
      give her this" YOu don't need to tell me I'm pretty" [LINK] & Lyrics swi...
Mar 28th 2005
21
           Modeling is very important
Mar 28th 2005
26
                i would suggest
Mar 28th 2005
30
                     Oh, I'll let her hear the song but
Mar 28th 2005
36
                          and that's precisely my point
Mar 28th 2005
38
                               Hey
Mar 28th 2005
39
                                    FUCKING MADEMY NIGHT WITH BEING SO CREATIVE (cosigning a post about you)
Mar 28th 2005
41
                                    Masculine/Mothering/Feminine/Fathering energy WTF???? ! A.N.S.W.E.R.
Mar 28th 2005
42
                                         Energy=duality=basic nature
Mar 28th 2005
43
                                              HUMAN NATURE IS TO BE LOVING. (Professor Griff knows.. (SAMLL SWIPE))
Mar 28th 2005
44
                                              LOL!
Mar 28th 2005
46
                                              RE: Energy=duality=basic nature
Mar 29th 2005
53
self improvement
Mar 28th 2005
29
Why is it a flaw?
Mar 28th 2005
32
      RE: Why is it a flaw?
Mar 28th 2005
33
      RE: Why is it a flaw?
Mar 28th 2005
35
      simulacrum
Mar 28th 2005
37
      RE: Why is it a flaw?
Mar 29th 2005
57

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