Blog Post #4- The Conflict of Appearance In Women Through Commercials

“They’re always telling you to be the most natural girl in the world and you want to cooperate but, well, they ought to see you in your natural state. Pale, lashless, lusterless, bustless and occasionally, after a grinding day at the typewriter, almost fingernail-less!” (Ouellette, 121) This collage describes the many products that are advertised on television commercials to alter the appearance of women. After watching many commercials, I have noticed that many of the advertisements on television are for products such as those shown in the collage. Women often experience the conflict of society expecting them to be natural, but also expecting them to fit a certain mold. Examples of these products include tanning lotions, teeth whiteners, colored contacts, wrinkle release crèmes, and weight loss products such as slim fast and trim spa. Commercials such as that for Bally Total Fitness also encourage exercise for a slimmer waist and a thinner more “perfect” body. Ouellette then states, “Instead, ‘new looks’ created with wigs, false eyelashes, tinted contact lenses, fake beauty spots, false toenails, false fingernails, nose surgery, padded bras, false derrieres, and false jewelry were recommended.” (Ouellette, 121)

Ouellette, Laurie. “Inventing the Cosmo Girl”. Dines, Gail. Gender, Race, and Class in Media. Sage Publications, Inc. Thousand Oaks, California. 2003.

Links to the photos:

http://www.mww.com/images/casestudies/bally.gif

http://www.whitekit.com/images/crest_white_strips.jpg

http://www.vitaminwomen.com/product_images/474.jpg

http://myspace-088.vo.llnwd.net/00878/88/02/878552088_l.jpg

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/87526/100.jpg

http://static.cosmeticmall.com/images/products/detailed/116894.jpg

http://www.tipsbijafvallen.nl/slimfast.jpg

http://a820.g.akamai.net/f/820/822/1d/i.ivillage.com/BS/products_shopping/glow/BS_Neutrogena_366.jpg

http://www.allcures.com/images/products%5C3011236.jpg

http://static.cosmeticmall.com/images/products/detailed/125309.jpg

http://www.colgate.com/ColgateSimplyWhite/US/WhiteningTP/images/right.jpg

http://www.naturevalley.com/naturevalleyimages/NewYogurtPkgs.jpg

http://www.new-oceans.co.uk/new/business/images/slim-people.jpg

http://www.primaryecp.com/DrRandall/images/Ciba%20Freshlook%20ColorBlends%20Chart.jpg