Greg Demetriou           

I think the most valuable thing about Glenn’s article is her ability to so clearly explain how this ideology came to be. Specifically when explaining, “In Southern Africa, colorism is just one of the negative inheritances of European colonialism. The ideology of white supremacy that European colonists brought included the association of Blackness with primitiveness, lack of civilization, unrestrained sexuality, pollution, and dirt.” (284) Clearly identifying the social situations that constructed the racial ideology in the world is extremely important. Many of the people in positions of privilege do not adequately understand the multiplicity of human experience, as made evident through the explanation of the default social group. The way Glenn explained the associations of blackness clearly display perception based on social influence. Not the type of social influence that would lead one to believe these assumptions, but the type that conditions perceptions. That is to say, Glenn does an excellent job of explaining the foundations of societal influence.

            Citizens of the world absorb and reproduce the racial ideology that currently exists in America. The current consciousness of those in positions of power reflects this same racial ideology. While this is the case, there is a blatant lack of understanding of the consequences of colonization. This directly reminds me of my experience in public schools. When I was going through school the colonization of America was always taught in a way where white settlers fled to America to pursue different freedoms. We never learned about the blatant genocide that took place against the Native Americans when these settlers came. The way that history is presented in modern times has tendencies to exclude ugly details of history. Instead the influential people of the past are romanticized as absolute heroes.

            As for the other articles about modeling and beauty pageants I had a hard time deciding what to talk about. As a male it is hard to talk about these issues with out allowing my perspective as a male to not reflect a degree of misunderstanding. What I began to think about is the difference between being a man and a woman in terms of these types of things. There are not male beauty pageants and the standard of beauty for males is completely different then the types of standards there are for women. This is wear it is important to acknowledge my privilege as a male, specifically in the case of modeling.

            When I see a male model I do not think in any way that the way he looks is a standard of masculinity. Obviously he is a good-looking person because he is the subject of a modeling campaign, but I don’t feel like I being sent messages about what is beautiful. This is because, as a white male, I have seen different standards of what is acceptable and preferable in society for people to whom I can relate. I feel like I can relate more to other displays of masculinity than ones that focus on beauty. I also acknowledge that this is all a product of the patriarchal system that structures gender expectations. I think it is important to articulate this privilege because it is the first step that I can take in becoming a pro-feminist.

            I had never heard this term before last semester, but it makes the most sense when helping bridge the gaps of inequality.  I am not a feminist because I am not a woman, and it would not be correct if I identified myself as a feminist because I do not know what it is like to be a woman. I acknowledge that as a male I have certain privileges that females don’t, and understanding this inequality is the first step in combating inequality. I thought it was important to articulate this perspective because it is what is needed. Throughout the world it is far more common to ignore privilege then to acknowledge it. As this shapes perception it is important to understand what can be accomplished when privilege is acknowledged when shaping perception.

            China’s New Faces explains how women feel compelled to get cosmetic surgery to make themselves look younger. The same exact thing happens in America. But for males, there seems to be a certain appeal of aging. When men age it is assumed that they have become distinguished, and there is a certain esteem with age. This process is not at all like the process females experience. Feminine signs of aging are not associated with those same qualities. This is just one example of the ridiculous inconsistencies of experience. What has ensued is a legitimate transition in medicine and media. Obviously the change in medicine is the progressions in the field of cosmetic and plastic surgery. In media it is reflected through the absence of older women. This can be easily seen in the experience of actors. For men, as they age they have opportunities to play more diverse roles that may reflect progressions in their talent. This definitely is not the case for women, as their roles become more limited as they age.