A link to my photo, since blogger won't let me upload one:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=women+body&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=685&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=ipXsOWKeEJIVoM:&imgrefurl=http://thestyleaficionado.com/2009/11/identifing-your-body-shape-women/&docid=DZPB3I_1FXFXyM&imgurl=http://thestyleaficionado.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bodyshapes.png&w=1350&h=967&ei=F2ubTsjoFuOqsQLIqeHcBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=397&vpy=304&dur=2835&hovh=190&hovw=265&tx=184&ty=123&sig=104307694441064150405&page=1&tbnh=105&tbnw=147&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0
This picture shows different "types of women bodies" given in terms of geometric shapes, which is quite ridiculous since every single person's body is different. The article that goes with the image explains each shape using terms like "proportionate, fuller, narrower, slim, defined," and these explanations are called identifiers. As if women need to identify their body shape to make up for it's downfalls. The website is a style website for women, which means that this categorizing photo is meant for women to capitalize on their body's strengths and cover up the weaknesses, but who determines which are strengths and which are weaknesses? The answer is men, women say they do things for themselves, and to themselves feel good, but just like we discussed with breast augmentation videos, who gave you the idea that big boobs would make you happy? Who likes big boobs? MEN! I asked my boyfriend (who is not a womanizer of any sort) which shape was the most appealing and he said "hourglass, because it accentuates the parts guys love the most." The article is meant to be supportive of all body types but it concludes it's intro by saying a women needs to understand her body shape in order to "manipulate" it into an attractive viewing. This is all an example of a gendered body, what women are supposed to look like, or how you can categorize all the different types of women merely by the shape of their bodies. The interesting thing about this image is that the block shapes that categorize the women are laid over the actual drawing so the viewer can't even see what her body looks like, the woman just becomes a classified shape, rather than a real person with her own real body. She becomes a docile body, not by her own choice, rather than an individual. Her shape is a product of culture and what we deem aesthetically pleasing.
Upon viewing the article you chose at first, I too thought it was written to be empowering for women; to help them 'make the best of what they've got'. But I didn't stop to think that the very concept was, like yous said, manipulating the body into an attractive viewing. Thanks for your interpretation!
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