Re-Presenting and Re-Membering The Female Body

Author

• Danielle Moran

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Research Paper

Department

Whittier Scholars Program

First Advisor

Jennifer Holmes

Abstract

This project examines print media and the effects representational images of the female body have on women. It explores the influence of visible representations of the female body, and the connection between sexuality, identity, and the male gaze. I believe I would find that the formation of female identity and sexuality was often linked to the male gaze, which constructs disfigured images of the female body. I thought I would discover that though women are constantly defined by the word ‘sexy’ in women’s magazines, they would not have a clear definition of it for themselves, as opposed to the way in which many magazines and advertisements portray it: as a fixed, attainable thing. I conducted research on women’s magazines, the female body in cultural context, and the affects that come out of objectification. From this research I wrote an essay addressing capitalism, female competition, objectification, and the visibility of exaggerated female body in Western Society. I also researched on the politics of performance and performance art as well as conducted 21 interviews with women about sexuality identity and the media. Interviews culminated in a performance art piece which de-constructed the female body in hopes to raise questions about it and it’s symbolic meanings. The performance art piece was well-received and I found that most of the women struggled with forming their sexualities and identities independently without media prompts. I also found that though women are aware of the destructive qualities of the media, many do not question it on a regular basis. I suggest several reasons why women must begin to challenge images that supposedly represent them and some ways they may begin to do this.

Comments

WSP Major: Feminist Performance studies

Recommended Citation

Moran, D. (2006). Re-Presenting and Re-Membering The Female Body. Retrieved from https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/scholars/405