Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The State of Beauty

36A...We can change that

55 birthdays...Can be your little secret

These are billboards I see every time I drive down the local highway.  They no longer shock me.

When did it become become more beautiful to have obvious plastic surgery (as noted by the plastic, frigid or inflated face that many celebs and socialites sport) than sagginess and wrinkles?  Many of these women are under 40.  Wasn't the point of having plastic surgery to look younger naturally?  Apparently that memo got lost a decade or so ago.  Do you still feel shock when you see these women?

I didn't bat an eye flipping through People magazine while I was on the treadmill at the gym last night.

Growing up we used to laugh at those women who looked like Joan Rivers.  When did we stop laughing and want to be more like them?

Is it because plastic surgery has become a status symbol among the elite? A race to see who can turn the clock back the longest even when they've long since gone past the point of looking "natural"?  Is it about who has the money to have the most procedures?  Or is it deeper than that? A need to control something so out of our control-the fact that we are all aging every second of every day. 

I used to think these women were deluding themselves.  After all, their hands gave them away every time?

Or so I thought.  Now you can apparently even get a hand lift.

That shocked me.

Recently, I read an article that said you should not use the terms "exercise" or "diet" with your children but more positive terms such as "healthy eating" and "physical activity". This is to counter the upward trend of eating disorders and unhealthy images among tweens and teens.  Shocking? I thought so. 

My closet and drawers are filled with push-up bras, slimming underwear, figure enhancing jeans, and the list goes on.  At the gym last night my eye caught sight of a flyer for small group personal training, something new the gym is offering.  I stopped and read the flyer.  Baby #3 isn't even here yet and I have found myself already thinking about my post-baby body.

Where do we draw the line?  Where do you draw the line?

I always saw plastic surgery as something limited to Hollywood but the reality is it isn't, not anymore.

This morning I called Emily "Princess Emily" because she had a blanket wrapped around her like a robe and a crown on her head.  She looked at me and said, "I'm not a princess.  I Emily". I hope she takes pride in that fact always and that she always sees herself as beautiful when she looks in the mirror because she is just as beautiful on the inside.  Hopefully, others will look to see it to.

10 comments:

Jennifer Farris said...

I know of 4 friends who have had "work" done in the past 6 months, one of whom posted the effects of her boob job on facebook. I have another friend from college who told me that her mom let her have her backside "enhanced" in HIGH SCHOOL. Personally, I draw the line at having it done at all. I think you're right...it's more than a status symbol, it's a need for control.

Tracy said...

Oh this hits home. Seriously my face went to sh*t when I hit 41 and after NEVER considering "work" I would love to grow a money tree and start the process..how sad is that. NEVER in a million years did I think it would be me.

Tarja said...

Hmm, where to begin? The plastic surgery tidal wave is officially out of control - but yes, it's totally accepted. It's an option and if people have the money, it's an option that's explored. But I miss seeing older women that are examples of aging naturally!

As for children and body issues, what a sad state of affairs.

Liz Mays said...

When people first do a touch of surgery, it probably does wonders for them, but the body isn't meant to age from a surgery-enhanced way, so in the end they look up far, far worse than if they had just let age do its graceful thing.

Does that even make sense how I wrote that?

Stacey said...

It is interesting how much society has changed. Heck our Barbie dolls look like they've had plastic surgery. I am due in May and am also thinking about my post-pregnancy body. I also secretly would like some help in the boob area. And yet, I don't want to set a bad example for my girls or make them feel that their bodies aren't good enough the way they are.

Shell said...

It's like we are supposed to be perfect- and that surgery is perfectly okay.

I'm not knocking people who did it. Just sad that so many of us think it's an answer when we look fine.

There is a billboard near me that SO bothers me. It says "Mommy Makeovers" and it's for a plastic surgery place.

Lourie said...

I can't afford plastic surgery. My hairdresser found a white hair today. I have wrinkles and a "mom" stomach that needs an abs program. But really, I am mostly happy with who I am and mostly comfortable in my 40 year old skin. I am going to let my hair turn white. Let those wrinkles come in. I will be an LOL Lovely Old Lady with all my natural aged grace.

I hope your Emily will always remember who she is and be proud of that. It's so hard and yet so important that our children feel good about themselves! Love this post!!!

Anonymous said...

Great post. It is flat out scray what some of the women on reality shows look like these days.
As for me, I'm only 36 but I still like to joke and pride myself on the fact that "there are not after market parts on this body." haha
I suppose if money wasn't an option I'd get a little lip done on my belly. But the idea of putting foreign chemicals like silicone breasts or botox in my body is really off putting to me.
Happy SITS Day my dear!

LBDDiaries said...

That line, 'not use the terms "exercise" or "diet" with your children but more positive terms such as "healthy eating" and "physical activity".' Should we really be saying, "Get that out of your mouth, get off your butt, go outside and play!"? Happy happy SITS Day!

Megan said...

Wait, people have stopped mocking Joan Rivers and now try and be her? That is just frightening. Thankfully my friends are all far too poor to try and get plastic surgery!

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