Latinas and body image was an event showcasing a documentary titled Perfect which discussed body image and plastic surgery among women in Venezuela. I learned that the past few Ms. Universes were in fact Venezuelan women. The documentary showed both Venezuelan men and women discussing and explaining their opinion of female beauty. It was explained that in Venezuela it’s difficult to find an advertisement without a half naked women with a perfect body. And since it has been made perfectly clear that advertising and media are what project ideas of beauty onto society, it is no wonder that girls as young as 14 and 15 years old in Venezuela are already planning and saving for their surgeries.
One point made by a man in the documentary that I didn’t agree with was that Baywatch was the catalyst for this change in body image in Venezuela. This makes it sound like American’s are at fault for making Venezuelans act and feel a certain way. I understand that American media as a global effect but I believe that there must have been other factors in this transition.
After the film we discussed our reactions. A lot of people felt that women were only getting surgery in order to satisfy men, therefore taking steps backwards in gaining equal rights and status in society. Others believed that women were doing these surgeries to satisfy themselves, either for medical reasons like breast cancer reconstruction or personal reasons like low self esteem. I personally don’t judge others who choose surgery because it’s not my place. Every case is different. However, I can say that I would never choose it for myself.
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