Makeovers: Personal or Political?

By Sally Raskoff

I caught a bit of Tyra Banks’ talk show recently. After wondering why on earth she has a show on the air, I heard her say something very interesting. 

This episode featured Tina Knowles assisting with “total makeovers.” As a fourteen-year-old girl came out totally done over and looking like a fashion model, Tyra gave her perspective on this person’s situation. She stated that she had noticed her at the beginning of the show – since she was pretty and very tall – and that while she didn’t need this makeover to be pretty, she needed the makeover to feel pretty. 

Makeovers continue to be popular on television shows, whether they are talk shows or shows devoted exclusively to makeovers, like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, How to Look Good Naked with Carson Kressley and Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. 

The similarity between these shows rests with their attempts to help women be more comfortable with their bodies. However, they take different paths in determining how clothing could and should work for women. While Carson and Tim focus on body awareness and learning how clothing actually looks on their bodies, Tyra focuses on doing the exterior hoping the interior issues will follow. 

Carson's and Tim’s show walks us through the process of dealing with our psychological and psycho-social issues – to some extent – in order to dress more appropriately and attractively according to our societal norms. 

All of these shows point out how people –particularly women – get caught up in presenting an image that may feel comfortable but which may not match their reality or even their aspirations.

On episode 4 of Tim Gunn's show, they presented Caroline, a 25 year old real estate agent who dressed in the uniform of her profession: suits. The show illustrated how Caroline could appear more professional if only her suits actually fit her and she mixed up the colors and textures. Apparently, her only impediment to success was her appearance.

While all these shows are great at product placement and are consumerist oriented, the underlying message of each show reinforces the norms for women to 

be hyper-vigilant about their appearance. However, the approach that Tim and Carson take seems to be less about norm reinforcement and more an attempt to de-stress women’s lives, assuming they have the time, income, and interest to sustain such wardrobe changes. 

On the other hand, Tyra’s show in particular seem to reinforce the norm for women to be dolled up as an object of desire, no matter the comfort of the apparel or the appropriateness of the styling.

So, where is the line between a sexist and objectified attitude towards females and one that values women’s attributes? It seems to me that this is the social issue that women and feminists have to deal with at this point in time. 

We’ve had two women’s movements in this country, one that got us the right to vote and one that outlawed discrimination in the workplace. While we can vote, not all take advantage of this and we still have issues about discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere. Stalking and domestic violence disproportionately affect women as victims. Many of my students have never heard the phrases “comparable worth” or “equal pay for equal work” and they seem to accept that women get paid less than men. The “feminization of poverty” continues even as we have many studies of the issue showing its roots, dynamics, and consequences. And yet makeovers seem to be more entertaining and get more attention than the topic of making real political and social changes in women’s lives.

Social movements emerge when people organize around issues that are problematic in society, issues that are not just trouble for themselves but that are trouble for others. While Alexis de Tocqueville said many years ago that, “We are a nation of joiners,” and we have to be sufficiently motivated to get off the couch and work at embracing diversity and equal treatment for all. 

However, that motivation rests on seeing social realities through things that might seem as fun and mundane as makeovers. Viewing makeover shows as opportunities to dress better is a consumerist perspective; viewing them as an example of reifying norms of gender is a sociological exercise. What do you think that these shows tell us about the status of women in American society?

Comments

[Christopher Hopkins]

The power of the feminine is not only in her mind, intellect and intuition, it is in her ability to attract. Attractiveness allows doors to open and her female energy flow motivate. Surely we know of Helen of Tr0y and Cleopatra.

Part of power is in our appearance. The goal of the makeover it to educate and inspire women (or men) to externally express what we inwardly possess. When who you are is expressed by how you look, you are beautiful.

The shows tell us what we have always known: Looking your best is part of being your best. When you look good you feel better than when you don't. Quite simple.

These shows are about hope and the possible. I don't think any objectifying or sexism is involved in these. (As opposed to that terrible show "Extreme Makeover" which was completely objectifying, sexist, and an unfortunate show, though entertaining.)

Women harness power when they know how best to express their ideal image. "It's not important" is more likely an excuse than a statement of truth.

It is indeed important, and we know it. That's why these shows are successful. We all want to be attractive. It is defining attractive that is the crux.

[Brian]

I don't watch a lot of talk shows, but I believe makeovers can be empowering for women. While getting "dolled up" may be rooted in objectification, I do not think the popularity of these shows reflect that value in society.

Yes, we live in patriarchal society, and many current norms have evolved from the like mindset, but what it comes down to in these shows is self-esteem.

No matter if you take the approach of Tyra Banks or Tim Gunn, the result is the same--as Christoper says above--"looking your best is part of being your best."

What would be more telling is what the motivations are for having a makeover: Is it to feel comfortable and/or professional as society deigns or a method of externalization?

Furthermore, how do men in society perceive it? One may be easily tempted dismiss this question, but unless we become a truly equitable society tomorrow, I believe that it is a crucial factor in the cause of feminism.