Natalie Bennett
The part of the 'review' I found most interesting was the section at the end of page eight where it began talking about the sociocultural pressures that may be leading to the increase in popularity of this surgery. The first reason was the cloud of negativity that surrounds the concept of women's reproductive parts. Next was the 'medicalization of sexuality' which has a lot to do with the movie Orgasm Inc. that I started watching the other day. One other reason that seems crucial to this is that cosmetic surgery as a whole has become very popular and almost normal. Another big reason was the popularization of porn and the more common viewing of female genitalia.
In terms of the second article, just that first quote raises enough questions in itself. Before even reading anything else I'm already thinking about what the difference really is, you know? It's scary, especially because this is getting been more popular. A woman is genitally mutilated due to hatred towards women (speaking absolutely generally) and we just read in the last article that one of the biggest justifications for the surgery is negativity toward that part of a women. Yes, in this case the women have requested it- but why? That's the scariest part.
I loved the video! It was great and super interesting. The part I liked best was when you pointed out that most women who look into these procedures do so after a comment from a male significant other. Even though the advocates of it portray it as this tool in women's empowerment and as something to make them feel better about themselves, it's not. Why do they feel bad in the first place?? It's like the idea of the product creating the market. Like in the movie, Orgasm Inc., the idea of female sex drugs is creating and perpetuating the idea that women even have a sex problem in the first place. The availability of these procedures is creating the idea that there is something inherently wrong with the female reproductive system and that these are the only ways to achieve perfection.
I completely agree with Natalie on how scary it is that women are now undergoing these surgeries, and I think it is very interesting how she points out that most women start to feel uncomfortable after a comment from a beloved one. There are excuses that say these surgeries are to make women feel more empowered, but I completely agree with her that this is just absolutely crazy and unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteAline
natalie and i have a similar view on this topic. i feel that it might not be scary but more of a unfortunate occurrence that many women are beginning to follow this new trend of new surgical procedures. and i also feel that it is a very weird and crazy new trend that is striking women not only in america but also world wide
ReplyDeleteBobby Bleistein
I agree with both Natalie and Aline that the fact that most women start considering surgeries like this only after a comment from a male partner is horrifying. It just shows that women aren't getting these surgeries as a source of empowerment, but rather they are listening to men and losing their self confidence from that. Why any woman would think a man knows more about what is supposed to be going on "down there" than they do is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteJane
I think that the most important thing that was said in this post was about the male influence on females deciding to get cosmetic surgery. Women are not naturally self conscious about their vaginas, and the only reason that they would be is because of an outside influence. Due to this, it is not as much of a choice as people think, because of how much pressure and encouragement there is from outside sources
ReplyDeleteZael
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Zael, NAtalie and the authors in that outside influence plays a huge role in determining our societal norms. I wanted to bring up another point: there was a comparion drawn between FGCS and erectile disfunction pills. However, I don't at all see how a comparison can be drawn between these two. One issue is socially constructed while another is biologically constructed. While erectile disfunction can be solved through taking FDA approved medication, FGCS can only be "solved through" a surgery that has not even been tested.
ReplyDelete-Zeina