Feminine Disciplinary Practices

In this paper, I trace back how Simone de Beauvoir’s phenomenological investigation into the reality known as woman led her to proclaim that woman is becoming brought about through incorporating the cultural beliefs and norms of femininity into the lived body. Thereafter, I introduce the ideas of Sandra Lee Bartky, to show how the cultural beliefs and norms of femininity sustain male dominance and have evolved over time. Bartky asserts that in our increasingly visual-oriented society, women are prompted to engage in feminine beautification which serves to prioritize their bodily appearance above their person and reaffirm their subordinate status to men. Despite claims to the contrary, Bartky regards feminine beauty practices, as they stand, as ultimately harmful to the wellbeing of women