The other day I watched a 30 minute news report on Paris Hilton's 10th arrest on drug charges. I couldn't help but notice the way her demeanor showed her state of mind. She flounced into the court room in her designer jeans and thousand dollar blond extensions. For a moment it was if she was untouched by the circumstances that brought her to the hearing. It seemed almost as if the drug charges were unjust, over exaggerated for how can such a beautiful girl, be harshly prosecuted to such an ugly crime. And this is where Valenti's article, Pop culture gone wild, hits it right on the head.
Valenti argues that our sexual culture has labeled girls as beings whose worth is rooted in their looks and willingness. Paris Hilton is a pop culture icon, a blond bombshell whose image is both rich heiress and sexy, promiscuous bad girl. Her fame was born not of acclaimed films or even her wealth, instead she became known for a sex video and the following explicit knowledge of her body that is shared with the rest of the world. But its the norm, rather than society being horrified at such exploitation, it clamors for it. Films like Girls Gone Wild make a net profit of 40 million dollars, all on the exploitation of drunk young teen girls on vacation who are willing to exploit themselves for 15 minutes of fame. Its child pornography sold in a silver disk in the movie section at the all or Walmart, Target etc. The producer of those movies do not ask every girl her age, and we all know that age is so skewed with girls trying to be women and women trying to be girls. But as long as you are considered hot, such are the sacrifices of being desirable.
Sex, sex, sex is what sells and beauty equals happiness and what girl doesn't want to be called beautiful, what girl doesn't want to be happiness. And thus is the vicious cycle. In order to be worthy, you must be attractive, hot and in order to be hot you must be sexy, carefree, willing. In order to achieve these labels, you must make sacrifices.
But the price of being labeled beautiful is all too clearly seen, as publicized by our beloved media. Paris Hilton, the ideal hot girl, was arrested not once but three times on drug charges. Brittney Spears, whose come out video featured her as a school girl in a tight uniform,was rumored to have done drugs and in the wake of a mental breakdown, shaved her head. Jessica Simpson, noted singer whose been labeled in the past as having the hottest body, had a break down as well because of the pressure of being labeled the sexist woman. These women are being crushed under this ideal, this ideal that many women pluck, tuck and starve themselves for.
I had noticed that a classmate of mine was also dating a girl who fit the usual standard of "hottness". Blond hair, blue eyed, tan and the perfect body. He acknowledged that she did indeed fit this beauty standard and that this standard was highly desired. I was sad for a split second, wondering if he understood the implication of his words. I wondered if he ever understood the pressures his girlfriend must feel in order to attain these standards. It is not my place to tell him what I thought. But it is proof that this ideal is accepted, revered, powerful and spreading. I for one feel lucky, my skin and body have no chance of fitting the ideal and because I can't play the game, I decided the rules don't apply to me. Being different can set you free from the pressures of being hot and desirable but that doesn't mean you are not susceptible. Exhibit A: Me
So I send a prayer to all pop culture icons I wish them a peaceful breakdown with all their hair intact.
No comments:
Post a Comment