Edited by author 02-18-2004 11:22 AM
Minding the Body and Body's Outlaws provide a refreshing alternative in looking at the body and the real implications that arise from these concerns. "My Jewish Nose" was one of my favorite essays from this reading, becuase it demonstrates how closely related each individual's body is realted to who they are culturally. There are many physical features that are attributed to specific ethnic groups, but yet all men and women across all groups suffer from many of the same body image dillemmas. I have a few Jewish friends (male and female) who comment on their Jewish nose jokingly and seriously. Most of their noses are fine, but either because of socialization or their altered perception (due to wrongful societal standards) of what they see in the mirror, they feel that their noses are something to be ashamed of. It is funny to think that a nose could be Jewish, American, or Latino/a, etc, and that it could have so much power. A nose seems like a disappearing feature on someone's face. No one really comments on how good someone's nose is, but if it is odd shapped- it then becomes the focal point of the face. And I guess it is a real concern, considering the frequent amount of nose jobs that are performed today. Now that I think about it- my nose was always referred to as the "Miss Piggy" nose when I was growing up. I liked Miss Piggy, so I didn't think much about it. But I guess it could have been potentially damaging, if I let it be. This essay was amusing, but it definitely gives an inlet in what other groups think about when it comes to their body image.