Entertainment media reinforces societies standards. It echoes societies standards, beliefs, stereotypes, trends, and most importantly, our beauty standards. As discussed in my previous article, “Unwanted Attention”, research shows that men have more interest in a woman’s looks than any other quality. It’s ingrained into our minds from a young age, how we, as women look, is everything. Women can often become obsessed with their appearance in unhealthy ways due to this belief. There are so many aspects of our culture that emphasize how important a woman’s looks are. One of them being the themes and messages of movies prevalent in American culture.
1. She’s all that (1999)
After a relaxing spring break, the hottest guy at school, Zack Siler, returns, only to find out he’s been cheated on and broken up with by the hottest girl around, Taylor Vaughan. Zack is enraged that Taylor would ditch him for another jock, Brock Hudson. As Zack vows that “Taylor is totally replaceable”, his best friend Dean Sampson dares him to make the ugliest girl in school, Laney Boggs, prom queen. Laney is an artistic, nerdy, and quiet girl. Laney’s mother passed away while Laney was a young girl and she’s never learned how to do her hair or makeup. There are many comments made about Laney’s appearance throughout the movie. For example, Laney goes to the beach with Zack and his group of very attractive friends. His best friend Dean comments on Laney’s body as she takes off her coverup, “Hey now, check out the bobos on super freak. You know, Zack, from up here she almost looks normal.” Dean’s only cares about Laney’s body, not who she is as a person. It’s not until Laney’s makeover which is done by Mackenzie, Zack’s sister, Laney is portrayed as attractive within the movie. After Laney’s makeover, the pretty girls who gave her an attitude, begin to compliment her, approach her at school, and invite her to hangout with them. Not only because of her nomination for prom queen, but her sudden makeover and friendship with Zack make Laney the talk of the town. Suddenly, Dean who used to think Laney was a “super-freak” asks her out to prom, he even rents out a hotel room with the hopes she’ll get with him after prom. The sudden shift in Laney’s portrayal after her makeover proves that those around Laney only perceive her through her appearance. If they didn’t, the pretty girls, Zack, and Dean wouldn’t of called Laney names, given her an attitude, or treated her like she was below them.
2. The house bunny (2008)
After Shelley is kicked out of the Playboy mansion, she roams the streets of sorority row. In the first house she enters, most of the sorority girls and housemothers shame Shelley for her revealing attire. In hopes that Shelley can save the Zeta girls from losing their house, they take Shelley in. The girls of Zeta don’t get a lot of pledges because they’re viewed as “losers” from the other frats and sororities on campus. This is because the girls of Zeta don’t look the similar to the other sorority girls. However, Shelley does. The Zeta girls begin to receive more attention from the frat guys on campus with the new addition of Shelley. After Shelley gives all the girls a makeover, the Zeta girls go from invisible, to getting stared at by all the guys on campus. The Zeta parties are the biggest events on campus and the Zeta girls finally get attention from their unrequited crushes.
3. mean girls (2004)
When Cady Heron comes back to America after 12 years in Africa, she’s overwhelmed with the difference in social norms in America. Many are unfriendly and unwelcoming towards Cady as she attempts to adjust to her new surroundings. Except for the Plastics, who invite her to eat lunch with them after taking note of her natural beauty. Throughout the film, the Plastics emphasize to Cady how important a woman’s appearance is. When Cady comes over to Regina’s house after a day of shopping with the girls, the girls begin to pick apart their body in the mirror. This changes Cady’s perspective on bodies, “I used to think there was just fat and skinny. Apparently, there’s a lot of things that can be wrong with your body.” Throughout the movie, the girls, mostly Regina, frequently express their obsession with their looks through self deprecating comments. Additionally, Cady takes note of how the Plastics write insults about other girls bodies in the Burn Book. Cady’s appearance changes as she gets closer to the Plastics. Her ponytail is changed to an array of hairstyles, often leaving her hair down. She ditches the tomboyish, baggy clothes for more feminine, form-fitting clothes with brighter colors. She goes from wearing no makeup, to a full face. The Plastics rub off on Cady so much, her personality completely changes along with the newfound attention she receives at school.
Although the plots of these movies are fictional, these events happen all the time in real life. Regina’s obsession with her body and diet is a very common issue among young women around the world. The glow ups and new found attention Laney and the girls of Zeta experience are common for many woman too. Whether their body fully develops, they begin to go to the gym and lose weight, or suddenly start putting more effort into their appearance.
Whether watchers realize it or not, these movies are a reflection of our real life habits and experiences. These early 2000 movies symbolize decades worth of standards and social habits.
Nonetheless, women deserve the same opportunities and should be appreciated for who they truly are, not what they look like. No matter what you look like, you are enough.