About the book
The bestselling feminist classic that redefined our view of the relationship between beauty and female identity.
In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she grapples with her body image and tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of \"the flawless beauty.\"
In this landmark work of cultural criticism, Wolf exposes the myth's foundations:
- A Backlash Against Feminism: Wolf argues that as women gained more power, the beauty myth intensified to undermine their progress, creating a new form of social control.
- The Illusions of Mass Media: An incisive look at how magazines, advertising, and popular culture create and enforce an impossible standard of physical perfection.
- Work, Money, and Power: Discover the connection between professional beauty standards and economic discrimination, revealing how appearance is used as a weapon against women's advancement.
- Hunger and Violence: A groundbreaking examination of the political roots of eating disorders and the rise of cosmetic surgery as tools of social coercion.
Editions of Beauty Myth
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780060512187
- EBook
- ISBN 9780061969942
Read an Excerpt
The bestselling feminist classic that redefined our view of the relationship between beauty and female identity.
In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she grapples with her body image and tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of \"the flawless beauty.\"
In this landmark work of cultural criticism, Wolf exposes the myth's foundations:
- A Backlash Against Feminism: Wolf argues that as women gained more power, the beauty myth intensified to undermine their progress, creating a new form of social control.
- The Illusions of Mass Media: An incisive look at how magazines, advertising, and popular culture create and enforce an impossible standard of physical perfection.
- Work, Money, and Power: Discover the connection between professional beauty standards and economic discrimination, revealing how appearance is used as a weapon against women's advancement.
- Hunger and Violence: A groundbreaking examination of the political roots of eating disorders and the rise of cosmetic surgery as tools of social coercion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Beauty Myth about?
The bestselling feminist classic that redefined our view of the relationship between beauty and female identity.
In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she grapples with her body image and tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of \"the flawless beauty.\"
In this landmark work of cultural criticism, Wolf exposes the myth's foundations:
- A Backlash Against Feminism: Wolf argues that as women gained more power, the beauty myth intensified to undermine their progress, creating a new form of social control.
- The Illusions of Mass Media: An incisive look at how magazines, advertising, and popular culture create and enforce an impossible standard of physical perfection.
- Work, Money, and Power: Discover the connection between professional beauty standards and economic discrimination, revealing how appearance is used as a weapon against women's advancement.
- Hunger and Violence: A groundbreaking examination of the political roots of eating disorders and the rise of cosmetic surgery as tools of social coercion.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Beauty Myth?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Social groups: religious groups and communities
Where can I read a sample of Beauty Myth?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780060512187
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Beauty Myth?
Naomi Wolf
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Beauty Myth is available as paperback(ISBN 9780060512187) and ebook(ISBN 9780061969942)
Where can I buy Beauty Myth online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Beauty Myth from below
Where can I buy Beauty Myth?