Post 4

            There are confusing messages that are imposed on women relating to the image of femininity, beauty, and sex. Mixed messages are created and become unrealistic standards. Society wants us to be an unrealistic balance of "sexy, but not overly-sexy because then you are a slut" kinda woman. When a woman is seen as being “too much” or “too little” of something such as her sexuality, femininity, and verbal and physical expressions, there must be a force that needs to stop her from doing so. Body policing are laws imposed on woman from expressing their body, in their own way. However, why must their be ownerships and regulations upon another human’s body?
              Since we live in a patriarchal society, the goal for policing a woman’s body is to maintain proper conduct and limit women from portraying themselves differently from others. The maintanance of proper conduct is intended for the man. It is in order for the man not to perform in acts of violence, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment against women. As women, when we show our skin, express how sexual we, or do not conform in the society’s views on beauty standards we are seen as rebellion against patriarchy or tempting the man.

              The discussion upon men and what they should not do is barely discussed in our education system, and even in the political world. The light is always on the women to not conform in these acts instead of the man who does. The view points of politicians also create this image of women exaggerating and being dramatic when it comes down to body policing issues. In this article, politicians are quoted on things they have said about women's bodies, and as horrible as they quotes are they are still allowed to be Senators, mayors, and representatives. Rape culture is seen as a joke, Mike Huckabee says "sometimes people conceived by a rape grow up to be really awesome! Rape is inexcusable and indefensive" but man can it produce top-notch humans." 

              School dress codes are one of the many ways in which the "higher authority" makes rules on what young girls are supposed to wear. Girls who violate dress code are punished, humiliated, and are often left with guilt and confusion. Ultimately, their outfits are as important as the education they receive. In South Carolina, students from Charleston County School, protested against the new school dress code policy. A student reported to the Huffington Post stating that, "the teachers at our school insert their own comments like 'you're selling yourself in the wrong way' or 'you're asking for it,'".

        In high school, I spent many school days in detention because I violated the dress code in one way or another. My hair color (red), and nose piercing was the topic of discussion when it came to going to school. The color of my hair and my piercing reflected negatively to the school because it was damaged the school look. Although, I understood it was a private institution, I could not help but to think of how ridiculous the rule was. My attitude and mentality towards my education was not going to change because of the color of my hair or my nose piercing. I was still the same girl. I was threaten with suspension until I changed my hair color back, and took my piercing off. So I did. At the time, I felt like I did not have a choice because my parents were involved as well. Why does the way I looked diminish what the school stood for? was my hair a sign of delinquency? rebellion? Did my appearance take away and lessen me as the young and educated girl I was suppose to be?

      Body policing is reflected upon our everyday media, and we since we are the creators of our media. For example, the standards of the beauty and fashion world is a perfect example to demonstrate what women should and should not look like in a general sense. Some female journalist and fashion gurus impose rules on women such as “things not to wear on first dates". In the article, one fashion guru says, “High-wasted jeans. Guys don't like the way your butt looks in them, unless maybe you look like a Victoria’s Secret model—even then you’re pushing it.” Although articles like these seem minuscule and trivial to the world we live in, it is apart of society and how women look at themselves when they read these articles.

          Self deprecation is what we know how to do because society has filled our heads with the motto of "perfect is never enough". We are conditioned to cover our flaws because our flaws are seen as a vulnerability and weakness. Women create these pieces of media because society makes it okay.  As Berger says, "Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object -- and most particularly an object of vision: a sight (Berger)".

Works Cited
John Berger Ways of Seeing