Do you struggle ‘Fitting in’ to your jeans??

Dear Readers,

              Well for the Ladies out there how many of you and don’t lie to yourself ;struggle when putting on your jeans? And to the guys that watch their significant other wiggle around to put that zippler up. Well I confess I’m not sure if I own a pair of jeans that it doesn’t take some jumping around to get into them. Especially after a wash. What about that fab pair of jeans that we keep in the closet we call our skinny jeans?? Made famous by Miranda on that wonderful little series Sex and the City. I don’t enjoy my jeans to be baggy and we all know that jeans always stretch after a few wears. It’s may be a small flashback into the 70′s when jeans were painted on but perhaps; not to that extreme. Abby’s article opens up with a description of an ad on womens jeans. Of course the ad has a model weighing less then 130pounds and about 6 foot tall the typical “Barbie” type. She resembles only 3% of the population, however her image sells because guys find her hot and that makes woman want to be like her. I have to agree with her that these images are so bad for ‘objectifying women’ and targeting an already vulnerable self-esteem in men as well as women.

               What about the guys?? They too get intimidated by these ads. They want to be that guy that has the hot girlfriend. They have to show this masculine side that their tough, not-feminine, drive a big truck, know how to operate in the bedroom and so on. If you ask me I think men have a lot to live up too. Abby writes how there are no magazines for men on appearances? Well I would have to detest because hello “the new age metrosexual male” of the 21st century. There are guys that like to look in the mirror just a little too long. Men are taking more pride in their appearance then ever before. Men’s magazines have clothing ads and informative articles on how to take care of your body. The concept of metrosexual has travelled far; just check out the magazine cover bellow.

            To go along with Abby’s comment ” Women will look at a picture of a nude woman longer than a man will. The explanation: she seeks comaprison”. Women will notice an attractive woman walk into a room before the men will because let’s face she’s the competition. Have we really evolved that much from the ‘Animal Kingdom’?  Abby goes on to say that instead of focusing on these ads, women need to disregard these insecurities and move ahead. But really is that possible, sure even being critically aware of the negative subliminal massages towards women they are still everywhere. You drive down the highway and see billboards, on buses, on the outside trash can, hear lyrics in music how can you really avoid it. Even just by observing ones peers. I can’t help but think why does sex sell so well? Has the idea of what is Beautiful really been bread into us all? In another sociology class on gender I learned that when scientist gave a baby monkey a choice between a beautiful picture of a model and a wire gorilla; the monkey choose the model. So perhaps there is a pleasant stimuli that we like looking at nice-looking things?

           I also find that someone’s personality can be a strong indication if a person is attractive. Have you ever heard the expression “shes/he is personality plus”. If a girl/or guy is very attractive on the outside but portrays a rotten attitude it spoils whatever made them attractive in the first place. We really can’t control what god gave us in the physical department what we can sure control our thoughts and attitudes. And I’m sure you’d all agree with me nothings more attractive then a person with confidence. You can see it with the way someone walks into a room. 

Kindest Regards,

Barb E   

I figured I’d  put up both videos because there both great the first talks about the Bullying of Masculinity and the later is called Killing me Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women. They are both very good I have watched both in a previous sociology class. Enjoy!!