ss and juicy ripeness, like that of a ripe fruit well sweet and soon to burst" (Sault, p. 137). Diet foods and beverages are only seen in bigger towns and assumed to be meant for diabetics because no one should wish to be thin; quite a drastic difference in attitudes from that of the American ideal. In a study done with 42 college students in Iran and 53 college students in the U.S., the Iranians scored reliably higher on a Body Self Esteem Scale (Akiba, p. 539). Those with little or no access to westernized media perceived themselves on a more positive level and were less likely to have eating disorders as well. Whether it is the media to blame, or the culture as a whole, is definitely a question not easily answered. In America, television programs present slender women as the dominant image of popularity, success, and happiness. One in every eleven commercials includes a direct message about beauty, which are almost exclusively directed toward women (Parker, et.al., p. 108). Common magazine covers will read "how to lose weight, how to look skinnier", giving females the notion that losing weight should be a constant goal. Our society encourages engagement in directed effort to improve the body in an attempt to achieve perfection. Because perfection is the ultimate goal, improving one's body no longer means simply losing weight. (Alderbaran, p.5). Makeup is a major concern for a large amount of women in American society. A great deal of time, money, effort, and energy is spent in using makeup and a range of emotions is experienced with its use. " Among everyday appearance practices in contemporary Western society, "visible makeup clearly marks the production of "womanhood" and "femininity": overall, women are the ones who wear makeup, men do not" (Holmes, pt.1).Women's everyday makeup and appearance practices are indeed part of the social organization of gender, race, class, femininity, sexuality, and the social constructio...
