A Bit of Feminism for a Change

Before I write what I want to say, let me introduce you to the Colombian standard of beauty:


(Need I say this image is property of SoHo magazine, Terra Networks?)

So yeah, this girl is called Camila Barreneche, she's 16, and she's what guys worldwide usually expect Colombian women to look like. One can tell what I'm saying is true when walking around a mall, which I do quite often. Many girls resemble this model, or any other supermodel I could've used as an example. Why? The answer is simple, and I'm sure all of you readers know it: models are objects of desire, and women want to be wanted (not all, of course, but the vast majority). Thus, they follow whatever trend to become objects of desire as well.

There's nothing wrong about wanting some attention from guys. After all, we human beings are destined to pair up and propagate our putrid race around the poor old world. However, the advent of mass media has brought strict rules to virtually every aspect of life. I recognize the fact that there were fads long before globalized media, but... here's one of my points, it's GLOBALIZED media.

Latin America is a region of naturally short and chunky people. Not obese, of course, just not thin at all. Since our life models have come from the US and Europe ever since we were colonized and the US declared independence, we have learned to accept their life as the prototype to follow. I don't know where this thin-is-in model came from, but it has expanded all around the planet with an incredible force, propelled by the media.

The thin-is-in phenomenon has pervaded Colombia, as expected, and it seems the anguish about violence has been soothed by a constant overconcern about physical beauty. Perhaps we've been watching too much TV, perhaps we've been listening to too much pop music. Suddenly, girls feel an urge to become popstars, or at least resemble them. Is it because the press has taught us that commercial women don't need to worry about real life?

I know women in the US are much more relaxed about this. Popstars are popstars, people are people. However, American women don't have to worry themselves to death about an ongoing civil war nor poverty, problems which actually strike Colombians. According to the media, being pretty gives women freedom to forget these general concerns; after all, a commercially beautiful woman can become a model, earn lots of money, and be loved.

The beauty issue is not only a female whim. It is fed by men who have learned their lessons on life from the media as well. They have learned about the power of sex with the orgasm as ultimate goal, and the great importance of 'using' the correct instruments under the correct circumstances to achieve It, the Climax, the Prize of all Prizes. The correct instruments are none other than the 'correct' women, of course the ones approved by the media, which seems to be a new Bible for the world. Meanwhile, women are brought up to the idea that love is the most important thing in life, and that there must be measures taken in order to achieve the Prize of all Prizes, Love. I must remark that this love is being dangerously confused with lust. Love and lust seem to be the same thing now, but while the man's prize is an instant gratification, the woman still seeks something beyond this. I presume this idea is being changed gradually as women are taught to seek instant gratification too.

I have recently visited a web forum on Colombian women. Men from many countries around the world, especially Britain and the United States comment on their wonders (I dare not say "our" since I don't really fit into their description), especially their physical attributes. "A below average girl walking around the mall is still supermodel quality!" remarks one of the participants (Click here to read the forum). Unfortunately, not all of us are like supermodel quality. Where do the rest go to achieve realization in their life? I'm not saying finding a man is the ultimate female goal, but as I said before, beautiful women are supposed to gain the freedom not to worry anymore about life. Thus, is there a place for real women who have their own concerns rather than being able to show off their diminute waistline and linear navel? Is the press ever going to accept the idea that not all of us need sex as a god or beauty as weapon for success, that being in possession of a brilliant idea doesn't make us less worthy than those in possession of a generally accepted body? Worst of all, are men ever going to realize our main goals in life don't necessarily involve becoming their objects of desire and pleasure?