Blog #3

An quote that interested me by Goffman is “A corollary is that when a male and female are pictured in a euphoric state, the female is likely to be exhibiting a more expansive expression than is the male, which in turn fits with the argument already made and illustrated that in our society women smile more than men – both in real scenes and in commercially contrived ones” (69). I find this to be interesting because of the fact that I don’t believe it’s true that females smile more than men. How can that statement be made when really everyone is different and depending on a person’s personality will determine how much they do or do not smile. Of course as a whole it can be judged that one sex may smile more or less but that statement shouldn’t be made because it’s stereotyping the men are more serious than women, which I believe to not be true.

Bordo asked, ‘When did “perfection” become applicable to a human body?’ (151). Her question stuck with me because many women ask this question everyday and even more women struggle to have the “perfect” body. Bonrdo goes on to explain Botox, face lifts and even eating disorders. These are all things that play into getting the “perfect” body. Everyday women look at the celebrities and think they have to look like them, when in reality there is no “perfect” body. So many women, including teenagers, are mixed up in all the nonsense of having the flawless image and that is the cause of so many problems such as eating disorders.

In the world today Goffman and Bordo’s analysis would hole up pretty well. Goffman may be a little outdated because he makes some references about how women were lower in society than men, and that has defiantly changed over time. Men still might be looked at as higher up but women have paved a way for themselves. Men and women used have to stick to their duties, men worked and women were the house wives, but in modern day that’s not the case. Women now have jobs that only men were allowed to have a one time, some women are even providing for their families instead of relying on the men of the house. Bordo’s insights also stand up in the world today because she makes a statement that people play into the media and follow it. This is very true with our culture today.