1. Douglas’s interpretation of the “perfect woman” has a toned butt and thighs. These women are knowledgable about manly things like old movies that were predominantly watched by men or they partake and know about sports. Their body is desireable to the eye and they use enough makeup to cover up all things undesireable to their peers. Women with bags under their eyes, with wrinkles and a bit of fat around their bodies but stay healthy or those women that Douglas commends. It was interesting when she noted that a womans face, her original face, tells the story of her life. The bags under her eyes remind her of the sleepless nights in college or with her new born baby. These are the women she admires and surrounds herself with because they work to make themselves happy, not their peers.
2. One important phrase she uses is deconstruction. She relates it to the deconstruction of ads in magazines. To break down the ads and the articles so that the reader can digest the meaning of what is trying to be sold. Is it really just a cream that will cleanse your face and avoid wrinkles? Or is it the media banging into your head that having a clean, wrinkleless face is the norm and is what you have to do? Another interesting tactic she uses with her words is when she describes different types of advertisements. With creams there is “building construction”, “high-tech approach”, “science and technology approach” or the “star wars approach”. Each of these in a way relates an idea of predominantly male occupations and interests to womanly cleansers.
