How we expect from women.

Susan Bordo states that women are highly subjected to the glorification of the "ideal woman" through discourses like advertisement, Television, and art. We constantly glorify this "ideal" woman, while sending negativity and harsh criticism towards those who do not conform to that. Any woman who does not fit this standard often falls victim to eating disorders, self confidence issues, and psychological damages.

This claim of the broadcasting of this "ideal woman" is supported by Ingres' Turkish Bath. At first glance, we see lots and lots of naked women. This man's painting obviously boosts the female form. Yet his ideal woman and ours are different; these women are definitely not skinny, nor do they look powerful or determined. He places emphasis on the more plump, seductively posed, large breasted women, displaying them as points of emphasis and his "ideal women". But ah variety is the spice of life, and he has included some skinny, more emotional women in this painting. But where would they be? Following the far left back wall to the right wall we can see a woman eating, women chatting, and an emotional, thin girl standin

g in the background. Ingres takes them emphasis off of them, and by doing so, supports his ideal woman that simply sits there naked and looks sexy. He even "displaces his own fantasy onto that of a young woman at the right who very firmly grasps her companion's breast" (Pg 233 bottom of first paragraph).

So Ingres has used his painting to advertise his "ideal" woman, a plump, seductive, large breasted (and in my opinion inactive, uninteresting, sack-of-potatoes) Caucasian woman who sits seductively (no matter how uncomfortable that probably feels) and does not demonstrate normal human qualities, such as eating (hunger), emotions, or independence (speaking with other women). Just as we use media and images to constantly glorify our "ideal" woman while giving negativity to anyone who does not conform. Don't believe me? Go to any grocery store or gas station, look at the magazine covers. They are filled with how to be the ideal woman and what happens when you aren't.