The Beauty Myth
2
"Today, what hurts is beauty"
The above video highlights a lot of what Naomi Wolf aims to explore in the The Beauty Myth. Although reality TV celebrity, Heidi Montag, had numerous plastic surgery operations, her strive for aesthetic perfection can be compared to Wolf's discussions linking beauty to cosmetic surgery. Montag talks of her addiction and obsession with plastic surgery despite the pain and 'near death experience', much like Wolf does. Talking of pain, Wolf writes, “since women should suffer to be beautiful – since their suffering is beautiful – the pain they feel is 'discomfort'.” [1] Like Heidi, due to influence from the media and medical professionals, many women feel as if it is their 'duty' as a woman to look beautiful and see themselves as simply fulfilling what it is to be a woman.
This external influence of cosmetic surgery being acceptable is an interesting point that Wolf raises. She states, '...the media are tolerant or supportive...'[2] With medical professionals aligning beauty with health, they are then able to provide a cure; cosmetic surgery. In the video, we hear about the pain and shame that Heidi Montag feels after her plastic surgeries, but don't hear a condemning of it. Although the journalist questions her motives, it seems to be 'tolerated' as Wolf suggests. In the comments below the video from viewers, there are many who agree with what she did with some stating it was her own choice and others even believing she looks better than before. Using Wolf's theory, it could be said that the latter group of people have simply been conditioned into believing The Beauty Myth.
However, there is a problem that I find difficult to understand in the text regarding cosmetic surgery and femaleness. Wolf states, that medicine describes women as sickening and 'potentially sickening to men'3. If this is the case, cosmetic surgery should influence them to become more like men. However, cosmetic surgeries have usually centred around making a women more feminine, such as larger breasts. Wolf briefly addresses this when she states, 'How can an 'ideal' be about women if it is defined as how much of a female characteristic does not exist on the woman's body, and how much of a female life does not show on her face?'4 Nevertheless, it is a question that needs further scrutinising. While Wolf believes The Beauty Myth will only continue to grow in the future, perhaps making women aware of this question will allow them to see through the myth.
Furthermore, the fact that celebrities are still secretive about having surgery done there is more media coverage about plastic surgeries going wrong, it is clear that the idea of cosmetic surgery IS changing and beginning to be challenged; perhaps as a result of Wolf's book, The Beauty Myth. questions her motives, it seems to be 'tolerated' as Wolf suggests. In the comments below the video from viewers, there are many who agree with what she did with some stating it was her own choice and others even believing she looks better than before. Using Wolf's theory, it could be said that the latter group of people have simply been conditioned into believing The Beauty Myth.