Beauty Within and Without: A Response

Beauty Within and Without: A Response
1. Summary
In “Beauty Within and Without,” a central argument is made about rising anti-feminist sensibilities against a backdrop of a long struggle for women’s liberation. In contrast to pre-1980s, when Feminism managed to bring to national consciousness issues of women’s independence particularly of female body, post-1980s, now informed more by male-dominated sensibilities across different industries particularly beauty industry, degenerated into sexist approaches to and images of women comparable to pre-1980s. The most essential argument is for all women to reclaim earlier sensibilities developed and promoted by pioneering Feminists in order to continue an uphill struggle against female subjugation to male gaze and manipulation.
2. Compelling Passage
“Tragically, even though females are more aware ten ever before of the widespread problem of life-threatening eating disorders in our nation’s history, a large group of females from the very young to the very old are still starving themselves to be thin.” (p. 34)
3. Course Terms and Concepts: Connection
Sexism. Typically, sexism refers to a bias, most commonly against women, on sex basis. The concept is p...