ABSTRACT
In February 2015, social media nationwide filled up with responses to the online leak of a photograph of 48-year-old supermodel Cindy Crawford, even though there was nothing especially controversial about what Crawford was wearing, or doing, in the photo. In it, Crawford wears a black bra and panties, topped by what appears to be a black fur coat, and sports a black hat. What was remarkable about the photo, originally shot to accompany a 2013 cover story in the Mexican/Latin American version of Marie Claire magazine but never actually published, is that it appeared unretouched. Unlike the flawless, perfectly toned bodies we have come to expect in fashion magazines, this photo not only showed Crawford’s tan lines but also revealed – gasp – that her stomach was not utterly flat, her skin not completely smooth, her thighs not totally free of any bulges or dimples. In other words, she looked like a normal 48-year-old woman who has maintained a healthy weight and reasonably good muscle tone. The photo itself, and audience reactions to it, went viral on social media, with many commentators initially praising Crawford for being “brave” enough to show the global audience what “real” women look like. However, after it became clear that Crawford had not authorized the release of the photo, the media discussion turned toward how the photo’s release had violated Crawford’s privacy (Cameron, 2015). Although Crawford herself never responded to the controversy, the photographer who
shot the original photo later stated that, in fact, it had been altered – to make Crawford appear less slender and fit than she actually is. The hoopla surrounding the Crawford photo illustrates a common complaint about mass media portrayals, especially of women. The people we see pictured in the pages of magazines, on TV, in the movies and in celebrity-focused websites bear little resemblance to the vast majority of people we would encounter in the real world. In short, they are simply too perfect. The women are tall and slender, with perfect muscle tone, full breasts, unblemished complexions, white teeth and glossy hair. The men, too, are tall, with wide shoulders, narrow hips, muscular arms, legs and shoulders, six-pack abdominals, clear skin, straight white teeth and enviable hair. Of course, there are individuals in the real world who fit these descriptions, but, let’s face it, they are the exception rather than the rule, while in the media these nearly perfect figures represent the norm. It isn’t simply that only the most beautiful women and the most handsome men achieve success as models, actors and singers. Rather, it’s that in many cases – especially in magazines – images of these naturally attractive models, actresses and singers are digitally edited to make them even more “perfect” than they already are (Kee & Farid, 2011). Even supermodel Cindy Crawford has said, “I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford,” a reflection of the fact that the images audiences see in advertisements, billboards and magazine covers often represent an individual who does not exist in real life at all (Jhally & Kilbourne, 2010). This chapter focuses on the impact of our constant exposure to these digitally edited images and their presentation as the cultural standard of beauty. This impact, research suggests, manifests itself in widespread body image dissatisfaction, damage to our self-esteem and, for some people, damaging behavioral responses, including eating disorders and other types of unhealthy dieting.
