Stereotypes Of The Ideal Woman

Over the years, there have been several different stereotypes and criteria as to what makes up what women should or should not look like. Those who did not seem to meet those physical standards were looked past and had lower self esteems than those who fit the title of the “perfect woman”. This is shown throughout the course of history through social media – books, movies, plays, music, etc. Decades ago, the ultimate stereotype of a woman would be described as petite, fair-skinned, light hair, and light eyes. Some would say – a replica of a Barbie doll. Nowadays, the new and improved stereotype of the ideal woman is wide hips, tan and flawless skin, flat stomach, and full lips. The constant change in this perception of the ideal woman is one
Similar to the seventies, social media outlets, such as movies and celebrities were the reason for the transformation of the perfect woman. As Tina Fey states:
“But I think the first real change in women’s body image came when JLo turned it butt-style. That was the first time that having a large-scale situation in the back was part of mainstream American beauty. Girls wanted butts now.” (22)
As mentioned in the quote above, this was the first attempt to change the existing template of what all women should physically look like. It was an attempt to change the current stereotype and instill a new concept into females’ minds. Rather than being petite, having narrow hips, and fair skin, they now wanted to have bigger buttocks and tan skin. Another example of a media-influenced woman’s footsteps to follow is Beyonce because “[she] brought the leg meat. A back porch and thick muscular legs were now widely admired” (23). More additions to the template of the new perfect woman include thick thighs and a muscular frame. Society uses examples like these to promote upgrades in body images by posting all over social media, and showing images of how celebrities have gotten surgeries year after year. These new additions only add to the lack of confidence and
Girls are exposed to these concepts and ideas at a young age, and begin to feel badly about themselves. For example, when Tina Fey says that “[she] may have only been seven or eight, but [she] knew that this sucked” (21). Even at that young of an age, girls still feel left out and as though they do not belong. It brainwashes children to believe that there are certain people out there that are privileged and better than others. They begin to think about things, such as: “I panicked. What about the hips? Were they too big? Too small? What were my hips? I didn’t know hips could be a problem. I thought there was just fat or skinny.” (20). It feels as though they have a set of rules to live by, so they begin to question themselves, and believe that they are not good enough. They feel like outsiders, and do not think that being unique is a positive way of thinking. As a result of feeling out of place and left out, women go out of their way to enhance their bodies in every way imaginable in order to achieve the look of the perfect woman. In “All Girls Must Be Everything”, Tina Fey states that:
“if you don’t have a good body, you’d better starve the body you have down to a neutral shape, then bolt on some breast implants, replace your teeth, dye your skin orange,