Woman’s identity vs. beauty ideals: a comparative study of selected contemporary novels
Author
Source
Journal of University of Human Development
Issue
Vol. 5, Issue 3 (s+conf) (31 Aug. 2019), pp.87-90, 4 p.
Publisher
University of Human Development
Publication Date
2019-08-31
Country of Publication
Iraq
No. of Pages
4
Main Subjects
Topics
Abstract EN
Cultural notions about woman’s identity play a role in woman self-acceptance and self-worth.
Generally speaking, these ideas affected women since they have shaped their feelings of worth and beauty.
Nowadays pursuit of beauty ideal has become one of the problematic issues to meet particular standards.
Moreover, the development of selfhood is influenced by the mirror of the society.
Ethnicity, body shape, skin color, age, and wrinkles are various forms of society standards of beauty which some women shape their identities by modifying accordingly.
Thus, beauty ideals become a form of restriction and enslavement because women are forced to follow and sometimes suffer to have the sense of belonging.
Three novels are selected in this paper to study the problematic issue of what is meant by beauty ideal.
Lucy Grealy’s autobiography of the Face (1994) depicts the suffering of a woman who has a struggle with jaw cancer since early childhood.
Surviving the cancer means removing part of her jaw which causes the tragedy of her life.
Zadie Smith’s The White Teeth (2000) is a work about the postcolonial society of London where Irie considers herself British despite her dark skin due to her Jamaican roots.
White skin is one of the ideals of beauty according to the British standard.
Ellen Hopkins’ Perfect (2011) is a novel in which the writer asks the question who defines the word ‘perfect’, the question is asked through Kendra whose dream is to be a model and a star.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Muhammad, Marwa G.. 2019. Woman’s identity vs. beauty ideals: a comparative study of selected contemporary novels. Journal of University of Human Development،Vol. 5, no. 3 (s+conf), pp.87-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1452885
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Muhammad, Marwa G.. Woman’s identity vs. beauty ideals: a comparative study of selected contemporary novels. Journal of University of Human Development Vol. 5, no. 3 (Special issue conference) (Aug. 2019), pp.87-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1452885
American Medical Association (AMA)
Muhammad, Marwa G.. Woman’s identity vs. beauty ideals: a comparative study of selected contemporary novels. Journal of University of Human Development. 2019. Vol. 5, no. 3 (s+conf), pp.87-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1452885
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 89-90
Record ID
BIM-1452885