GRSJ224/The Medicalization of Female Attractiveness

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Introduction

Medicalization is a process whereby a previously non-medical problem not which does not require a medical attention increasingly becomes defines as a medical problem, placed under medical examination, and treated with a medical subscription.[1]

Overview

Being natural is no longer considered beautiful unless the bodily features resemble those of popular culture, that is, resembles a fake body. These images of beauty standards are dominantly created by medical industries, through the mass media. Female attractiveness has become one that is defined and accomplished by doctors, accomplished through medical processes. The invasion of plastic surgery in the 21st century has made the attractiveness and beauty of women to be dependent on and defined by the medical transformation. A process that subjugates women in the system as seeking approval for acceptance in the society through their level of attractiveness.

Given the depiction of feminine attractiveness especially in Hollywood movies and mass media, an increasing number of women have relied on a medical process to define not just their beauty, but their entire body shape, size, form, and outlook. And this poses a huge demand on women in the society to work harder in order to considered attractive. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic plastic surgery includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures individuals undergo to reshape normal structures of the body as well as enhance appearance, confidence, and self-esteem (Merianos, et al.,2013).

Origin Of Plastic Surgery

Female Attractiveness in Medical Discourse

The role of media

Implications of Medicalizing Female Attractiveness

Conclusion

References

Brown, P., 1995. The Social Construction of Diagnosis and Illness. Health and Social Behavior, Volume 35, pp. 34-52. Conrad, P., 2008. The Medicalization of Society. 1 ed. s.l.: John Hopkins University Press. Conrad, P., Mackie, T. & Mehrotra, A., 2010. Estimating the costs of medicalization. Social Science & Medicine, Volume 70, p. 1943e1947. Cowan, S., 2009. Looking Back Towards. 18(02), p. 247–252. Merianos, A. L., Vidourek, R. A. & King, K. A., 2013. Medicalization of Female Beauty: A Content Analysis of Cosmetic Procedures. The Qualitative Report, 18 Nov, 18(46), pp. 1-14. Suissa, A. J., 2008. Addiction to Cosmetic Surgery: Representations and Medicalization of the Body. Int. Journal Of Mental Addiction, pp. 619-630. Wray, S. & Deery, R., 2008. The Medicalization of Body Size and Women’s Healthcare. Health Care for Women International, Volume 29, p. 227–243.

  1. "The Medicalization of Women". Women's Health Advocate.