Question 1

In contemporary North American culture, beauty is associated with all of the following, EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?&#10;A) Youth&#10;B) Maturity&#10;C) Thinness&#10;D) Fair complexion

Accepted Answer

In contemporary North American culture, beauty is associated with youth, thinness, and a fair complexion, but not necessarily maturity.

Question 2

The main purpose of body work in our culture is:&#10;A) fulfilling cultural expectations about appearance&#10;B) fulfilling cultural expectations of heteronormativity&#10;C) achieving peace of mind&#10;D) achieving health

Accepted Answer

Body work, such as exercise and grooming, is often used in our culture to fulfill societal expectations about appearance. This can include ideals of physical beauty and fitness, as well as gendered expectations about how men and women should look and present themselves. While body work can have health benefits, its primary purpose in our culture is often tied to cultural expectations and norms.

Question 3

Sociologist W.I. Thomas contributed the following to the understanding of social construction of ideas:&#10;A) ideas are neither true nor false&#10;B) ideas reflect group norms&#10;C) ideas have real effects&#10;D) ideas are easy to change

Accepted Answer

W.I. Thomas is known for the Thomas theorem, which states that "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." This highlights that ideas, whether true or false, can have real effects on people's behavior and social outcomes.

Question 4

The textbook makes a point that individual experiences of cultural norms of appearance vary with individual:&#10;A) psychological make-up&#10;B) childhood socialization&#10;C) social skills&#10;D) social location

Accepted Answer

Social location, which encompasses factors such as race, gender, socio-economic status, and age, significantly influences an individual's experiences of cultural norms of appearance. This concept recognizes that societal expectations and norms are not experienced uniformly by everyone but vary based on where an individual stands in relation to various social categories and hierarchies.

Question 5

According to the textbook, which of the following sociological thinking frames is the most useful for understanding the relationship between beauty norms and the beauty industry?&#10;A) Material/cultural&#10;B) Structure/agency&#10;C) Micro/macro&#10;D) Ideal/real

Accepted Answer

The material/cultural frame allows us to analyze how physical objects, such as beauty products and procedures, interact with cultural beliefs and practices surrounding beauty. This frame is particularly useful for examining the relationship between beauty norms and the beauty industry, as it allows us to explore how the industry both reflects and shapes cultural ideals of beauty through its products and marketing strategies. The other frames listed are also relevant to the study of beauty norms and the beauty industry, but they do not provide as specific a lens on this topic as the material/cultural frame.

Question 6

Research has shown that the following trait is viewed as desirable in African-American, but undesirable in Caucasian men:&#10;A) extreme thinness&#10;B) keen sense of fashion&#10;C) careful grooming&#10;D) physical strength

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that a keen sense of fashion is often viewed positively in African-American men but may be perceived negatively or with indifference in Caucasian men. This reflects cultural differences in the valuation of personal style and presentation.

Question 7

Knowing that norms of appearance reflect intersecting axes of inequality in our society, which of the following statements would you expect to be true?&#10;A) The same level of physical strength is desirable in both African-American women and men&#10;B) The same level of physical strength is desirable in African-American and Caucasian men&#10;C) Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Latino men&#10;D) Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Caucasian women

Accepted Answer

Appearance norms often reflect and reinforce societal inequalities, including those based on race and gender. Latina women's appearances are frequently judged in comparison to Caucasian women due to prevailing beauty standards that are typically centered around Caucasian features and body types. This reflects broader societal patterns of racial and gender inequality, where standards set by the dominant group (in this case, Caucasian women) are often used as the benchmark for all others.

Question 8

Research has shown that norms of appearance for men and women have converged in recent decades. In which of the following areas have they NOT converged?&#10;A) Fear of fat&#10;B) Fear of objectification&#10;C) Emphasis on strength and masculinity of men&#10;D) Emphasis on strength and femininity of women

Accepted Answer

The norms of appearance for men and women have not converged in the area of emphasis on strength and masculinity of men. While there has been a shift towards valuing strength in both genders, the traditional emphasis on masculinity as a defining characteristic of men's appearance has remained more distinct compared to the convergence seen in other areas of appearance norms.

Question 9

Research has found that female models with darker complexion are more likely to be depicted as:&#10;A) sexualized&#10;B) sophisticated&#10;C) smart&#10;D) shy

Accepted Answer

Research has found that female models with darker complexion are more likely to be sexualized and portrayed as exotic or erotic, rather than sophisticated or intelligent.

Question 10

How does the textbook explain the fact that many people continue to pursue virtually unattainable appearance ideals?&#10;A) These ideals happen to coincide with actors' free choices&#10;B) These ideals are hegemonic and socially powerful&#10;C) These ideals have historically become more realistic&#10;D) These ideals are deeply contested

Accepted Answer

The textbook explains that appearance ideals are often hegemonic and socially powerful, meaning they are widely accepted and even enforced through cultural norms and media representations. This can cause individuals to relentlessly pursue these ideals even if they are virtually unattainable for most people.

Question 11

Advertisements for Dove skin care for men claim that use of their products will result in "strong skin," whereas the corresponding products for women claim to achieve "soft skin." Which of the following is NOT likely to be an effect of these advertising campaigns?

A) Men stop buying Dove products
B) Women stop buying Dove products
C) Gender inequality is contested
D) Gender inequality is upheld

Accepted Answer

The answer of Advertisements for Dove skin care for men...

Question 12

According to Simmel's explanation of fashion cycles, who decides when a new fashion trend will begin?&#10;A) Fashion industry&#10;B) Consumer advocates&#10;C) Masses&#10;D) Elites

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Simmel's explanation of fashion cycles,...

Question 13

Contrary to Simmel's views, contemporary sociology of fashion acknowledges that mass consumers of fashion exercise significant agency. Which of the following concepts explains how mass consumers choose which fashions to adopt and which to ignore?

A) Style
B) Lifestyle
C) Originality
D) Trickle-up fashion

Accepted Answer

The answer of Contrary to Simmel's views, contemporary sociology of...

Question 14

Which of the following aspects of beauty ideology could be documented by content analysis?&#10;A) The proportion of racialized models in magazine advertising&#10;B) Reasons why editors do not choose racialized models&#10;C) Structural supports for racism in fashion industry&#10;D) Historic roots of racism in our society

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following aspects of beauty...

Question 15

Sociological research into modelling has found that its preference for the white beauty ideal is caused by:&#10;A) deliberate discrimination&#10;B) racism of individual designers and editors&#10;C) attempt to minimize business risk&#10;D) attempt to minimize negative publicity

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sociological research into modelling has found that...

Question 16

How did the notion of self-improvement in North American culture change over the course of the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the notion of self-improvement in...

Question 17

What is the relevance of race to North American beauty ideals? Describe one instance of resistance to the racialized nature of these beauty ideals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the relevance of race to...

Question 18

&#34;Women should have fairer skin than men.&#34; Is this statement ideological? Explain the reasons for your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of &#34;Women should have fairer skin than men.&#34;...

Question 19

Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence the understanding of masculinity in our society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence...

Question 20

Define the &#34;culture of bodily lack.&#34; What is its connection with consumerism? Use an example to explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the &#34;culture of bodily lack.&#34; What...

Question 21

Define &#34;fast fashion.&#34; What is its cultural and material significance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define &#34;fast fashion.&#34; What is its cultural...

Deck 11: Looking Good: Ideology, Intersectionality, and the Beauty Industry