みなさん、こんばんは＾＾
今回は私が日頃から考えている「Body shaming」とはどんなことなのか、そしてそのBody shamingとメディアとの関係性についてお話したいと思います。
私は今まで自分を必要以上に責めたり、周りの人がどう自分を見ているのかがこれまた必要以上に気になったりして、長い間、自分の中に自信をつけることに困難を感じていました。
中でも自分の外見や体型を他の人と比べてはがっかりしたり、すぐに自信を無くしてしまったり、色々と苦しんできました。いつもいつもきれいな人と自分を比べては、私なんて…と自分を愛することを止めてしまっていました。
…そもそも「Body shaming」はアメリカではよく聞く言葉なのですが、簡単に言うと「Body shaming」とは、完璧な体型や美に対してとても強いステレオタイプを持つことによって自分の体や、自分の美を蔑むということだと思います。これは私なりの解釈なので、正しいかはわかりませんが…。
つまり、私は長年この「Body shaming」に悩まされていたのです。
フランスやアメリカでの生活は、とにかくこの「Body shaming」との戦いでした。
周りには、自分よりも背が高く、鼻も高く、きれいな目の色をして、スタイルも抜群な外国人がたくさんでした。そんなわけで、私はもちろんBody shamingばかり。海外のメディアはこれぞとばかりに美しい外国人女性を起用して私たちに「これが理想の女性のボディなんだ」と言いかけます。
もう自分なんて…なんでこんな体型なんだろう…そうやって自分を愛してあげることができていませんでした。
そんな中、アメリカの授業でこういったBody shaming、女性がどう自分の体型を認識するのか、それがどんなものに影響されているのかなど、そういったことを学ぶうちに自分のBody shamingを冷静に見つめなおすことができたんです。
私が一番衝撃を受けたことは、私たちの思考(自分なんてあの人に比べたら全然綺麗じゃない…etc)は、私たちが普段見ているメディアにとても影響されているということです。海外のモデルやセレブのこれでもかというくらい美しい写真、映像、広告、、、全てが私たちに「理想の体型」のイメージを植え付けます。そしてその理想化されたイメージは、私たちがどう自分を見るのか、にとても影響しているのです。
そんな理想化されたボディイメージによって自分自身の持っているボディを蔑んだりすることはとても悲しいこと…。私も、世の中の他の一般女性も、みんな不安です。でも私がここでみなさんに伝えたいことは、そんな理想化されたボディイメージはただの理想であって、リアルなものでは無いということです。もちろん、この世の中にはびっくりするほどナイスボディを持った美しい女性はたっくさんいます。でも彼女たちの美しさが、世界中の女性が真似しなければいけないものなのでしょうか？過酷なダイエット、整形、色々なことを試して、それでもついていかなければいけない理想なのでしょうか。
以前の私はそんな女性の１人でした。でも私はそうゆう考え方を捨てる決意をしました。メディアはこう言います。「これが理想のボディなんだよ。」「これが美のスタンダードなんだよ。」と。でもそれは全くの嘘。モデルやセレブの写真は編集でいくらでも直せます。(もちろん全てのモデルやセレブが編集されているとは言いません。)
イギリス出身の女性歌手、Lordeがツイッターを通してファンに訴えた言葉がとても印象に残っています。
リンクはこちら。
http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/04/01/lorde-acne-pic-photo-shop-image-clear-skin/
彼女は、世に出回っている編集された(にきびが綺麗にされてあるもの)彼女の顔写真と、編集される前の彼女の本当の写真（にきびがそのまま写っているもの）をどちらもツイッターに載せました。彼女は、パーフェクトな人なんてどこにもいないとそう伝えました。私は彼女の言葉にとても励まされました。
「Remember flaws are ok」...きっとたくさんの勇気をもって私たち一般女性にリアルな自分を見せてくれたLorde。彼女の勇気に感謝したいと思いました。
理想的なイメージは決してリアルなものではない。
その理想化されたイメージのせいで自分が今もっているボディや美しさを愛することを止めてはいけない。
そう改めて強く思いました。
私は私。あなたはあなた。
世の中は、理想化された美やボディイメージで溢れています。でも、忘れないでください。今私たちが見ているそのボディイメージは唯一のものではないということ。そして、それは多くの人のために多くの場合は編集されて美化されているということ。モデルやセレブの中にもそういった「fake」な自分の姿に疑問を感じている人はたくさんいるということ。
こういったことを少しでも気にとめてメディアを見てみるときっと違ってくると思います。これは私が今でも気を付けていることであり、そうすることによってメディアから受ける精神的な影響が少なくなった気がします。
少しでも多くの女性が自分に自信を持てますように。
はじめまして＾＾
こちらのブログの管理人、Chihiroです♪
私のバイオグラフィーを少しだけ...
現在大学４年の２１歳。２０１３年３月にフランス短期語学留学。
そこで出会った１つ年上のフランス人の彼と国際恋愛中。
２０１３年８月から２０１４年７月まで約１年間
ペンシルベニア州のDickinson Collegeにて留学。
アメリカでは、日本小説から見える日本人のアイデンティティ、
ジェンダーとポップカルチャーの関係性、東アジア映画論、ジャズピアノなど
色々なことについて勉強。
２０１４年日米学生連携プロジェクトに参加。
そこでエイジングとQuality of Lifeの関係性をリサーチ。
現在は絶賛夏休み:)
「自分自身も含めた、少しでもたくさんの女性が自信に満ち溢れた生活を送れるサポートをしたい。」「自分の好きなもの、風景、思い出を記録しておきたい。」そんな思いからスタートしたブログです＾＾♪
こちらのブログの管理人、Chihiroです♪
私のバイオグラフィーを少しだけ...
現在大学４年の２１歳。２０１３年３月にフランス短期語学留学。
そこで出会った１つ年上のフランス人の彼と国際恋愛中。
２０１３年８月から２０１４年７月まで約１年間
ペンシルベニア州のDickinson Collegeにて留学。
アメリカでは、日本小説から見える日本人のアイデンティティ、
ジェンダーとポップカルチャーの関係性、東アジア映画論、ジャズピアノなど
色々なことについて勉強。
２０１４年日米学生連携プロジェクトに参加。
そこでエイジングとQuality of Lifeの関係性をリサーチ。
現在は絶賛夏休み:)
「自分自身も含めた、少しでもたくさんの女性が自信に満ち溢れた生活を送れるサポートをしたい。」「自分の好きなもの、風景、思い出を記録しておきたい。」そんな思いからスタートしたブログです＾＾♪
Hello everyone :) !! I am Chihiro, an exchange student at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. I’m from Japan. I would like to talk about “Asian beauty and Western beauty” by using ideas that I’ve learned in the class “gender and pop-culture”.
ELLE (girl), VOGUE, GOSSIPS… globalization enabled Asian women to reach out to these Western women’s magazines which provide a large amount of information about Western fashion, beauty, and celebrities. In main big cities in Asia, Western cosmetic brands such as MAYBELLINE New York, REVLON, and L’OREAL Paris are more advancing into Asian market places ever than before. All these Western commodities use Western women (especially White women) in advertisements, and that is why Asian women are exposed to Western standard of beauty: spotless white skin, big breasts, skinny body, and big eyes with double eyelids. The media such as magazines and advertisements is controlling how people think about “beauty” and what the most “beautiful” look is. Western beauty seems to have enjoyed its superiority over Asian beauty because of the mass productions of Western standard of beauty all over the world. However, I suspect that there is a misunderstanding between Western people and Asian people about this issue: “colonialism all over [Asian women’s] face” (RACIOLICIOUS 2008) of the beauty. I would like to verify the misunderstanding.
In Western-beauty concept, “being sexy” is probably valued the most. These days, many white girls and women are trying to get tanned. Is this because tanned skin looks sexier? I’m sorry but I’m not sure. On the other hand, Asian women are more trying to get whiter skin. Some Western people think these Asian women try to get whiter skin because they want to look like white women: the universal standard of beauty (maybe!). However, I would like to deny this opinion. This is because, firstly, this opinion sounds like “Yellow skin is inferior to white skin.” This is totally NOT true. There is NO superior skin color. Moreover, I think Asian women are influenced by “oriental medicine” which originally regards healthy skin reflects healthy body. In Japan, recent women’s magazines always encourage Japanese women to protect their skin from ultraviolet rays because they are going to create the cause of wrinkles, melamine, and skin cancer for the worst outcome. Protected healthy skin (not tanned skin) reflects inner health. I’ve never seen Japanese women’s magazines telling “let’s get whiter skin to look like white women!” NEVER! I think this different way of thinking is a very crucial point when we decide what the beauty is.
Until now, I was totally against the opinion which some Western people have about Asian standard of beauty. However, now, I have to say YES to the question “Is Western standard of beauty overwhelming Asian standard of beauty?” The thing is “eyes and eyelids”. Eyes and eyelids are important because they determine the impression of each person. Probably many people have a stereotypical image of Asian eyes and eyelids: slit eyes with single eyelids. Due to these types of eyes and eyelids, there are many Asian women suffering from racism. I read the blog about a Chinese female television host who experienced plastic surgery for her eyes to get advance career in the U.S (One Equal World 2013). She had no choice, but changed her face to be accepted by American society which values Western standard of beauty. However, we should not misunderstand her action. Maybe, she undergone plastic surgery to get her eyes looked like Western standard of eyes, but I would like to say she did it to be against the racism. She decided to change her original beauty to feel comfortable in American society. Do you think Asian women like her should keep closing their eyes towards their own original beauty? Do you think Asian women like her should assimilate to Western standard of beauty by desperately undergoing plastic surgery? I do say NO. I cannot understand SOME of Western people who judge Asian women’s ability by their Asian-look face. How they look is NOT the same as what they have inside.
In Japan, women’s magazines are promoting Japanese girls and women to get “half” face. What they mean by “half” is the mixture of Western face (what they can get from make-up such as blue or blown eyes, long eyelash, big eyes with double eyelids, and blonde hair etc…) and Asian face (what Japanese women originally have). Japanese girls and women are controlled by media telling “let’s make half face!”, “let’s mimic celebrities’ make-up!”, or “let’s make western-doll-like face!” More and more girls spend money on planting longer eyelash on their eyelids, buying color contact lens, and dying hair. However, there is news about health problems caused by the planting artificial eyelash and wearing unsafe color contact lens. Many girls are taking risks to get “half” face and assimilate to Western standard of beauty. This phenomenon exactly indicates Western standard of beauty is prevailing not only in Western society, but also Asian society.
For conclusion, I would like to say that NOT all Asian women want to follow Western standard of beauty. I say there are many Asian women who regard Asian beauty as their own respectful beauty. Also, it’s wrong to determine that Western beauty is totally overwhelming Asian beauty. However, it is also true that there are many Asian women who feel insecure about their Asian-look due to the media’s promotion of Western standard of beauty. I would like to say beauty is possessed by ALL women, and it should not be used to measure which race is superior or not. Western beauty should not be used to make minority women lose their confidence in their original beauty. Who did decide Western beauty is the best? Yes, I say Western women are beautiful, but I say Asian women, ALL women are beautiful. The influence of media cannot be avoided, but we can prevent ourselves using beauty to measure women’s ability. I’m just a college student who just began to study women and gender studies, but I would like to say for all women as an inexperienced feminist: let’s be wise when we consume or view pop-cultural media productions, and keep in mind that there is no superior beauty there.
Sources:
http://www.racialicious.com/2008/12/22/assimilated-beauty/
http://www.oneequalworld.com/2013/09/20/the-devastating-implications-of-western-beauty-standards/
Thank you for reading!
ELLE (girl), VOGUE, GOSSIPS… globalization enabled Asian women to reach out to these Western women’s magazines which provide a large amount of information about Western fashion, beauty, and celebrities. In main big cities in Asia, Western cosmetic brands such as MAYBELLINE New York, REVLON, and L’OREAL Paris are more advancing into Asian market places ever than before. All these Western commodities use Western women (especially White women) in advertisements, and that is why Asian women are exposed to Western standard of beauty: spotless white skin, big breasts, skinny body, and big eyes with double eyelids. The media such as magazines and advertisements is controlling how people think about “beauty” and what the most “beautiful” look is. Western beauty seems to have enjoyed its superiority over Asian beauty because of the mass productions of Western standard of beauty all over the world. However, I suspect that there is a misunderstanding between Western people and Asian people about this issue: “colonialism all over [Asian women’s] face” (RACIOLICIOUS 2008) of the beauty. I would like to verify the misunderstanding.
In Western-beauty concept, “being sexy” is probably valued the most. These days, many white girls and women are trying to get tanned. Is this because tanned skin looks sexier? I’m sorry but I’m not sure. On the other hand, Asian women are more trying to get whiter skin. Some Western people think these Asian women try to get whiter skin because they want to look like white women: the universal standard of beauty (maybe!). However, I would like to deny this opinion. This is because, firstly, this opinion sounds like “Yellow skin is inferior to white skin.” This is totally NOT true. There is NO superior skin color. Moreover, I think Asian women are influenced by “oriental medicine” which originally regards healthy skin reflects healthy body. In Japan, recent women’s magazines always encourage Japanese women to protect their skin from ultraviolet rays because they are going to create the cause of wrinkles, melamine, and skin cancer for the worst outcome. Protected healthy skin (not tanned skin) reflects inner health. I’ve never seen Japanese women’s magazines telling “let’s get whiter skin to look like white women!” NEVER! I think this different way of thinking is a very crucial point when we decide what the beauty is.
Until now, I was totally against the opinion which some Western people have about Asian standard of beauty. However, now, I have to say YES to the question “Is Western standard of beauty overwhelming Asian standard of beauty?” The thing is “eyes and eyelids”. Eyes and eyelids are important because they determine the impression of each person. Probably many people have a stereotypical image of Asian eyes and eyelids: slit eyes with single eyelids. Due to these types of eyes and eyelids, there are many Asian women suffering from racism. I read the blog about a Chinese female television host who experienced plastic surgery for her eyes to get advance career in the U.S (One Equal World 2013). She had no choice, but changed her face to be accepted by American society which values Western standard of beauty. However, we should not misunderstand her action. Maybe, she undergone plastic surgery to get her eyes looked like Western standard of eyes, but I would like to say she did it to be against the racism. She decided to change her original beauty to feel comfortable in American society. Do you think Asian women like her should keep closing their eyes towards their own original beauty? Do you think Asian women like her should assimilate to Western standard of beauty by desperately undergoing plastic surgery? I do say NO. I cannot understand SOME of Western people who judge Asian women’s ability by their Asian-look face. How they look is NOT the same as what they have inside.
In Japan, women’s magazines are promoting Japanese girls and women to get “half” face. What they mean by “half” is the mixture of Western face (what they can get from make-up such as blue or blown eyes, long eyelash, big eyes with double eyelids, and blonde hair etc…) and Asian face (what Japanese women originally have). Japanese girls and women are controlled by media telling “let’s make half face!”, “let’s mimic celebrities’ make-up!”, or “let’s make western-doll-like face!” More and more girls spend money on planting longer eyelash on their eyelids, buying color contact lens, and dying hair. However, there is news about health problems caused by the planting artificial eyelash and wearing unsafe color contact lens. Many girls are taking risks to get “half” face and assimilate to Western standard of beauty. This phenomenon exactly indicates Western standard of beauty is prevailing not only in Western society, but also Asian society.
For conclusion, I would like to say that NOT all Asian women want to follow Western standard of beauty. I say there are many Asian women who regard Asian beauty as their own respectful beauty. Also, it’s wrong to determine that Western beauty is totally overwhelming Asian beauty. However, it is also true that there are many Asian women who feel insecure about their Asian-look due to the media’s promotion of Western standard of beauty. I would like to say beauty is possessed by ALL women, and it should not be used to measure which race is superior or not. Western beauty should not be used to make minority women lose their confidence in their original beauty. Who did decide Western beauty is the best? Yes, I say Western women are beautiful, but I say Asian women, ALL women are beautiful. The influence of media cannot be avoided, but we can prevent ourselves using beauty to measure women’s ability. I’m just a college student who just began to study women and gender studies, but I would like to say for all women as an inexperienced feminist: let’s be wise when we consume or view pop-cultural media productions, and keep in mind that there is no superior beauty there.
Sources:
http://www.racialicious.com/2008/12/22/assimilated-beauty/
http://www.oneequalworld.com/2013/09/20/the-devastating-implications-of-western-beauty-standards/
Thank you for reading!