ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that the men interviewed were aware of the way that cultural images depicted in television, video, and film affect people’s ideas about beauty and influence sexual attraction. Popular cultural images are distributed by way of television and music video shows, billboard and magazine advertisements, and even children’s fairy tales. These outlets and the images they depict reflect the American media’s strength and power as a socializing agent. The chapter provides a each of the men’s ideas about physical attractiveness as well as their confessed ideals for beauty. What celebrities such as former Miss America turned pop star and actress Vanessa Williams and super model Tyra Banks have in common are their aquiline features, straight hair, light complexions, and light eye color. The chapter discusses to what degree, Black women were regarded as potentially desirable mates by each of the men.
