Maleigha King
Final English Paper
Wilson
11-28-09
"Men act; Women appear" John Berger once stated, "men act; women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at." Berger describes this sort of duality of existence in a women wherein she is constantly conscious and concerned with mannerisms; basically, there is always a part of her that it outside of herself and watching with self-discriminating attitude. (1) A women is "the surveyor and the surveyed." (1) This quote can be taken in several different ways, one being advertisements. While being viewed in advertisement terms we are convinced that it represents stereotypical gender roles. It states that men are shown in advertisements as the more important role,
This is because females are so worried about what the male eye will think about them when they are looked at. Females take extra time to get ready in the morning, making sure every aspect of their makeup, hair, accessories, and clothing are to perfection, when males only worry about how a female looks. Men are the ones attracted to women by their appearance at first sight, which leads them in to making 'the first move.' When a female finally gets the attention they need from the male it fills them with comfort about themselves. Because women worry about the way they look so much they become their own spectator. Women have to be happy with how they appear to others before they can be happy with themselves, which is not how it should be. Not only does this describe the relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. All in all, women are their own worst critics. They hassle themselves about their appearances more than what is necessary. So why are women like this you may wonder? We have been brought up in our society and taught to be this way. In American society today it is to be understood that women are the one's in the household that clean, cook, wash clothes, take care of the kids, etc. While the men are the 'man of the house,' and sit back and watch, keeping an eye out on things. If our every day life style is known to be this way, why wouldn't women worry what men think of