Body Modification: Focused on Women Essay Example

(1991; cited in Holland 2004 31) through clothing and exercising. Davis also notes that the interest in the body stems from advancements in medicine and sanitation, with all life stages being studied.

The increased life expectancy in Western societies has led to a growing population of elderly individuals (Holland 2004 31). Consequently, research on aging bodies has increased with several studies conducted (Furman,1997; Pearsall, 1997; Bytheway, 1998; Fairhurst, 1998; Gannon, 1999; Gardner and Johnson, 2002; cited in Holland 2004 31). One such area of study is how the aging, ill, or disabled body is often concealed in favor of the Western standard of a young, thin, white body (Shilling, 1993). Our body is not just a possession but also an identity. It is viewed as something that requires preparation for public display. Gender is one way of preparing our biological sexed body to meet cultural norms. Eric Gans (2000; cited in Muggleton and Weinzierl 2003 123) believes that for the Modern Primitive subculture, the skin's information with a body modification serves as a narrative for the ritualized experience of receiving them. Women's bodies have been studied extensively in various social aspects, highlighting how cultural discourses and institutions shape their experiences (Holland 2004 31). In contemporary culture, women's bodies are fragmented and objectified, and they are more present in popular culture and imagination than men.

The portrayal of women as a commodity in popular culture and media often leads to their objectification, according to Craik (1994) and Macdonald (1995). These portrayals can lead to judgments based on physical appearance, regardless of context. Brownmiller (1984), Chapkis (1986), Wolf (1990), and Davis (1997) have studied the ways that

beauty culture, fashion, cosmetic surgery, and fitness are essential for maintaining women's bodies which are considered flawed. Women's pursuit of slenderness is expected by society but can cause body dissatisfaction and eating disorders according to Orbach(1988) and Grogan (1999). Bodybuilding has become a trend among women who seek masculinity or gender identification.

According to Holland (2004, 32), bodybuilding has been identified as a means of opposing the idea of being slender (Schulze, 1990; Tasker, 1992; Mansfield and McGinn, 1993; Tate, 1999) and creating bodies that challenge gendered norms by taking up space. Meanwhile, society has engrained the pursuit of thinness as a social norm for females, where being thin is associated with beauty. The idea of body modification to remove unwanted body fat has become increasingly common, with cosmetic surgery being a normalized solution. Pursuing thinness has been connected to the "myth of transformation," wherein losing weight is believed to change not only one's body size but also social and interpersonal status.

In contrast to the rising rates of obesity, there is a strong emphasis on thinness. This is made increasingly difficult due to cultural changes, such as a decrease in physical activity, an increase in sedentary leisure activities, a rise in fast-food consumption, and the introduction of “super-sized” food portions (Cash and Pruzinsky 2002 187). Female bodybuilding represents a form of female power where the focus is on the physique – the body itself. Women have taken certain sports traditionally seen as male and made them new forms of identity. This creates radical notions of the female body, beauty, and sexuality, making an unabashed display of the female physique. However, this type of sport puts

the ‘natural’ order of gender at risk, producing a distorted masculinized body upon which stereotyped symbols of femininity are imposed (Hargreavers 1994 168).

Women engage in tattooing as a form of body modification, which is used as a means of expressing their individual identity. However, they tend to conform to established codes about acceptable female body play. Although sociologists have studied the increasing participation of women in tattooing and their varied styles, women generally choose smaller tattoos compared to men. Women have a long-standing association with tattooing, despite historical and current disapproval, often in connection with freak shows and circuses. Although more women are opting for full-body tattoos or large segments filled with tattoos, current female enthusiasts still prefer Western constructions of femininity in their tattoo images, such as flowers, dolphins, abstract art, and cosmic imagery (suns, moons, and stars).

In Canada, body modification enthusiasts are passionate about challenging traditional gender norms. They alter their bodies to break free from established gender roles and defy societal standards around femininity and masculinity. Physical changes to the body are used as rituals to challenge Western notions of a woman's ability to tolerate pain, with many embracing physical discomfort for personal growth. Through extravagant forms of body modification, female enthusiasts in Canada aim to subvert traditional ideas of what constitutes a beautiful feminine body (Atkinson 2003 174). Additionally, cosmetic surgery is often seen as a way for women to shape their societal identity through body modifications.

The act of undergoing cosmetic surgery reinforces traditional gender norms and perpetuates the idea that women exist only for the pleasure of men. This practice reconstructs the body to conform to stereotypical standards of

femininity and masculinity, leading to societal pressure and objectification of women. While some feminist scholars argue that it creates a means for resistance, others assert that it coercively enforces conformity with feminine beauty standards. (Kramarae and Spender 2000 240; Wolf 1991; Morgan 1991; l3ordo 1993; Gillespie 1996; Brush 1998; cited Phjol 2005 25).

According to various sources, cosmetic surgery can be seen as a means of empowering women by allowing them to achieve aesthetic ideals and resist feminine norms that limit bodily expression to attracting men (Davis 1995; 1997; 1999; Balsamo 1992; Orlan 1991, l997; cited in Phjol 2005 26). This transformation enables women to move beyond a body reduced to reproductive function and become a site for "staging" new identities (Phjol 2005 25). Feminists point out that more women than men seek cosmetic surgery, largely due to patriarchal standards of beauty and youthfulness imposed on women (Phjol 2005 26).

The pressure on women to conform to societal beauty standards can devalue them and lead to a desire for cosmetic surgery. This creates a relative disadvantage for women who do not undergo the surgery, increasing pressure on them to also go through with it. Therefore, cosmetic surgery is not only a result of patriarchal standards but also reinforces them (Benatar 2006 12). The reasons for body modifications center around societal acceptance, personal expression, and the possession of identity in society. These perspectives explain the behavior and coping patterns associated with body modifications. In analyzing gender identity formation, body modifications in women should be considered.

The study showed that females use tattooing as a means to establish their own sense of individuality, similar to how body modifications

are used. Bodybuilding can be used to create a masculine figure that symbolizes power or to fit in with other males. Cosmetic surgery is often sought by women who feel that they have imperfections that prevent them from being accepted by society and seek patriarchal approval through these procedures.