Tan=Acceptance

One body practice which many women and men partake in daily/weekly/monthly is the act of “TANNING”. The feeling of needing to be bronzed in order to be beautiful has taken over the minds of so many Americans. This fad has exploded over the last decade because of societies reinforcement of having “color” is more pretty, hot, attractive and healthy than being the ever so dreaded “pale”! Bordo claims that women shape their body for external reasons and this fits right into that argument. Although we are all warned that this body practice has so many more dangers, risks and harms than the simple pro of looking a certain bronzed way, we choose to ignore the bad signs and follow what culture states is the best way to be and live.

Tanning is something that gives people an instant satisfaction. Many people go to tanning salons in order to feel better about themselves whether it simply be that looking darker helps emphasize this or the actual vitamin D and small amount of endorphins increased while tanning which lead to the immediate self satisfaction. People pay to go to a salon where beds with lights in them project and create this docile body. The way we are suppose to look and feel (good and tan) is what this ‘docile’ body is for this practice. As Susan Bordo makes point of, there are things we all do that seem so crazy when disected but culture twists this fad to make it seem ordinary.

Along with this actual tanning bed phase millions of dollars are thrown away every day on tanning products such as lotions, formulas oils, bronzers, all things that will help produce this “tan” look in order to create an image of being beautiful and accepted. This is the none harmful and dangerous way of being the ideal looking human in society however the money spent on these products is also in my opinion a waste.

This image of being TAN has been created and seen as beautiful because like how all things come and go in waves being tan for so long was something that was very rare and therefore was considered unique and stunning. Many years ago “PALE” or white skin was the exact same way. People would put white powder on their faces and constantly watch and stay out of the sun for fear of becoming dark/red. This became popular, came and went and then as years passed the tables were turned and now it could be looked at as pale is beautiful and rare. Some point in the future I am predicting that this Image of being tan will slowly change and yet again our world will be turned upside down. Tanning beds/companies will go out of buisness and companies will begin designing products, which help the ideal person to looking less bronzed. Just as all body practices come and go with societies influence this too will fade but doing out of the norm things in order to feel tolerance will always exisist as long as the majority of the people allow themselves to be swayed by culture behavior.