Analysis Of Judy Brady's Essay 'Ms. Magazine'

What is Your Worth?
Sean Simpson

Bethann Cormier
English 101 B1 SP15
15 February 2015

Does the age-old expression “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” hold any water in today’s society? In my humble opinion, I believe that it does. What one may deem as beautiful may not be the same for another. In society today there are a number of factors which contribute to how we view others, as well as ourselves, and the roles that each of us are supposed to play. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to media (print, television, social media), cultural beliefs, and generational beliefs. Our society’s view on beauty and gender roles/stereotypes is an ever-changing landscape. What may be popular today

Magazine, in 1971, she speaks about the typical view, I would say, at the time, about a woman’s role in the household. She speaks about a “wife” staying home to take care of the children, making sacrifices in her own life, while a husband does as he pleases, and has his every need met, without hesitation. While I believe that this is the setting my father was raised in, I do not believe it still applies today. My father taught me many life lessons growing up, including working hard to provide for your family. The fact of the matter is that he is on his third marriage, and his father, god rest his soul, was also divorced. Something has to change, right? Marriage is a two-way street. Women’s role in society has changed, and is continuing to do so. I would undoubtedly say that the belief that a woman’s role is solely in the home is almost obsolete. It is an outdated notion that no longer applies. Women today are strong and independent. Many hold jobs and rank superior to their male counterparts. It is no longer “the best man for the job”, but the “best person for the job”. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be a select few who will be stuck in the past, and can’t accept women as equals. I am not one of them. I applaud those who are able to balance work with the responsibilities of taking care of a family, my own wife being one of them. Without her, this household might fall

From television, to magazines, to social media, our views are being changed constantly. Take for instance the photos in this module entitled “American Icons”. In the 1960’s Marilyn Monroe, considered a “full-figured” woman, was just about every American man’s fantasy. Then compare the photo from 1998 of Julia Roberts. Skinny seems to be the new sexy, or so the media would have you believe. While I do believe that being healthy is a positive thing, this idea that being healthy means you have to weigh a certain amount, look a certain way, or fit into a certain size, is preposterous. While I like the premise of Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty”, as Virginia Postrel states in her essay The Truth About Beauty, what you see is not what you get. Yes, the photo depicted women of different shapes and sizes, different skin tones, hair colors, etc. What Dove neglects to mention in the photo is all of the editing and touch-up work that goes with any major ad campaign release. Even though the ad was diverse, it was not enough to change people’s views on what is beautiful. “The “real women” pictured in the thigh-cream billboards may not have looked like supermodels, but they were all young, with symmetrical faces, feminine features, great skin, white teeth, and hourglass shapes. Even the most zaftig had relatively flat stomachs and clearly defined waists. These pretty