3...2....1.. Pose

My example of a body practice is the infamous hand on the hips pose that girls do. I actually do this without second thought and have never questioned why, this is praxis not only for me but also for many women in today’s society. When girls put their hands on their hips they are actually “posing” in the sense that they are putting on a show for others to look at, this showcases the way in which today’s culture is other oriented. Women do not pose in this manner to please themselves it is to be pleasing to the population around them. The act of standing in this way does work in making a body that is intelligible in this culture or ideal and practical; it pushes your chest forward, your shoulders back, shows the most attractive part of your arm by showing the meaty part and making you look thinner, and draws attention to your hips and waist. Along with this most people accompany this pose by standing slightly sideways to make themselves look thinner and even more intelligible in today’s culture. This “pose” is used to make a girl who is already thin look even thinner exemplifying the idea of pursuit without terminus. Susan Bordo discusses how women use their body to empower themselves. I think this pose allows women to feel attractive but also powerful. The pose also draws people’s attention to their hips illustrating their role as having the ability to reproduce; wide hips are commonly associated with fertility. This pose is signifying the woman’s social position. So where did this body practice come from and how did it start? Probably from activities that signify femininity such as ballet, gymnastics, modeling, and cheer leading. In a sense this shows the docile nature of the body, how a woman will be subjected to societies ideal to appear graceful and feminine like a dancer in its everyday life.

.....Speaking of an other oriented society here are 15 ways (according to this bro bible site which is interesting in itself) that girls “try” to look hotter for others on facebook.

http://www.brobible.com/bronews/story/the-15-most-common-ways-girls-try-to-look-hotter-on-facebook