The Common Thematic Subject Shared by the Four Pictures
Clearly, the most evident factor with regards to the four pictures is the societys standard of giving aesthetic or sexual admiration of superiority, or a womans sexual value in the eyes of the beholder. Each of the four pictures has its own way of expressing a personal viewpoint based solely on the persons social upbringing. Other impressions, such as the economic background of the subject in picture 4-2, the racial undertones as emphasized in picture 4-1, and even unpopular sexual preferences, as exhibited in picture 4-3, only comprise for secondary issues.
Picture 4-1, which is that of a naked South Australian aboriginal female of 22 years of age, had clearly demonstrated the societys tendency of being automatic in their assessment leaning on racial discrimination. Here, there is an obvious absence of the usual reaction of seeing a naked woman in print that of wonderment and the usual admiration for the finer sex. Perhaps this unusual reaction was caused by the subjects race and her apparent absence of the finer qualities that society has dictated upon us as being attractive.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of this thinking also ushers a cruder standard of labeling women based on their physical attributes. It downgrades women that society perceives as having less beauty, to a lower level where not only their physical attributes are discriminated, but more importantly the very individuality of their being. Perhaps the historical importance of the white race being the masters of the black slaves has had its share of blame for the prevalence for this manner of thinking that because of the slave trade that spanned for hundreds of years, it has left an indelible mark on the societys perception that aborigines generally are an inferior race. However sad this reality may be, it makes only for one of the many variations where inequality and discrimination on women are being widely-practiced.
Picture 4-2, where an old and impoverished woman is seen holding a child in ragged clothes, denotes almost the same reactions as with picture 4-1, especially if viewed in the perception of sexual aesthetics. Clearly expressed in this picture is the womans seeming acquiring of a lessened value either as she grows older or poorer, exhibiting yet another unfortunate inequality that women are being subjected to, in relation to their worth in the society. More so, women in this predicament are more prone into being in a state of helplessness, as compared with the woman in picture 4-1, as this old woman is already past the marrying stage, thus eliminating the hope of finding security in a mate who might bring her some form of economic stability.
Women who are suffering from this kind of gender discrimination have been abundant in times of war. Often times, being left alone with kids to sustain, they have been left with no other choice other than begging. In most certainty, because of their age and the financial dilemma they are in, they have found it impossible to find employment in businesses, thus making their lives desolate of any chance of a bright future to aspire for. After a deeper analysis on women suffering from this type of inequality, a question then arises, of whether who is at fault for their becoming victims to this act of nature, which is ageing, and to an inescapable occurrence, which is economic hardship.
Primarily, pictures 4-1 and 4-2 have exhibited the feminist dilemma that are rooted in sexuality issues and their being discriminated by a society that upholds a seeming temporary importance for their preference on accepting what is physically appealing. Picture 4-3, however, despite being an expression of this very same feminist sexuality which society finds attractive, nonetheless suffers the same level of discrimination because of the inappropriateness of the subject being a male. It represents then an irony of what society finds appealing yet is still found unsuitable youth and beauty of the female gender as expressed by its counterpart.
Clearly, picture 4-3 radiates sexuality that the society could otherwise find extremely appealing if not for the undertones of homosexuality. It drives a point, then, of the discriminatory attitude of the society to abhor sexual inclinations that are outside the norms set on their own standards. Thus, even if the subject is a male, this dilemma might just prove to be feminine in nature, as the sexuality being conveyed clearly belongs to this gender. A realization then naturally follows if one is equipped with an inquisitive mind that we have developed a fixed and strict standard of measures in determining what is socially-appealing and acceptable.
From picture 4-3, we are able to conclude of what makes for an acceptable moralistic view of sexuality that beauty and the expression of sexuality, in general, must be within the boundaries of what has been accepted throughout the ages, and crossing the lines of gender attributes have not been totally blurred despite of mankinds advancement in the arts and the sciences, this gender divide had remained unbroken.
Picture 4-3, as compared with the subjects in the other pictures in study, denotes the sexual innuendos that are found nonexistent in the other pictures, although with some characteristics that are worth noting. Taking into account its correlation with the Australian aborigine subject, the qualities that are present in picture 4-3 are what could have made it appealing to the eyes of the society young, Caucasian-looking with features that are considered admirable and appealing, plus the lingerie which could have accentuated the over-all sexual theme of the subject. Most certainly, interchanging the subjects on these two pictures would have resulted in an entirely different viewpoint of the beholder. Society would have found it extremely appealing, sexy, and downright beautiful.
On the other hand, pictures 4-2s relation with picture 4-3 has likewise its own prominence. It clearly exhibits the way society degrades its perception on women as they age. One is only intrigued by what could be societys reaction if the old lady were to be photographed wearing the same make-up and lingerie of the subject in picture 4-3, during her younger years. Surely, all the discriminations labeled at the woman would have been replaced by remarks of high distinction and praise, and society would have found it extremely appealing. Thus, discriminatory distinctions on what and how a woman should behave that were put in place by the society, are much evident in comparing these two subjects. Indeed, it makes for one of the unfortunate realities that women in general, have been forced into suffering. It clearly shows societys preference and the resulting deterioration of how they perceive women as they grow old.
Picture 4-4, which is a pinned-up sketch of a woman with a large caption that read, We have received orders not to move, serves as the unfortunate summary of what the other three pictures have expressed. Its simplicity nonetheless has been able to express all the inequalities and the discriminations that society has wrongly-designated on the gender. It shows the invisible boundaries that force women to be within the limits that are set by the society. This may be in various forms, such as employment, gender rights issues, employment benefits and promotions, racial issues, or even in the simplest manner in which society self-servingly predisposes judgment on what is physically-appealing from what is detestable. More so, this picture draws in detail the real picture of what women have suffered in all the ages of human historythat of being the inferior gender.
By looking at the picture, one is opt in making the consequential question of who had made the self-serving interest of placing women in a designated lowly position, and what are the consequences that had led to this situation. Other than the ready answer to the first query, perhaps it would be wise to consider the entirety of the society as the culprit. Perhaps situations pertaining to the ever-important religious factors that are considered by the society as being essential had led to the propagation of this unfortunate situation. Perhaps too, the societal hierarchy of countless past generations had largely contributed to this dilemma, that it was able to stand the test of time, unfortunately.
Picture 4-4, as compared with its relation with picture 4-1, clearly establishes a set of norms that places aboriginal women on the lowest levels of the present social hierarchy. Here, it is my belief, the blame rests on the entirety of the society, and not just limited on the male gender. As can be evidenced in almost all the societies, the discriminatory tendencies to be prejudiced on this race involve the female members of the superior members of the society as well, thus, providing further substance on the argument that the aborigine sector has been designated by the modern society, its perceived rightful place of being one of the lowest members in its caste system.
Also worth noting, as compared with its relation with picture 4-2, is the same bias that is being labeled on the women coming from the impoverished and the aged sectors. Here, societal impressions have been accurately expressed in the form of the physical attributes as characterized by the detestability of the subject being photographed. It is an epitome of how society perceives women from this sector in their physical attributes untidy, wrinkled, poor, in tattered clothing, and living in a place void of any progressive, modern development. It is a prime example of how and where society expects and indeed places these sectors of women in their everyday living they are being told, at least tacitly, to remain in their own worlds and never to move anywhere near their more superior counterparts.
Picture 4-3, intriguingly, expresses insightful ironies with respect to the theme on picture 4-4. Most distinguishable is the irony of the society leaning to be discriminatory on the very same qualities they find revolting in homosexuals, despite possessing of feminine qualities that most find appealing on women of the same age. Most clearly, there is an evident line of segregation separating how the society discriminates homosexuals as belonging to an inferior group. Although not genuinely belonging to the female gender, this sector nonetheless exhibits identical and appealing sexual attributes of those of the female sector, although manifested in the opposite gender. Hence, as the picture 4-4 conveys, this sector of the society is constantly being given the unspoken message of its belonging on the lower class of the social structure of the modern caste system.
Conclusion
The four pictures in study had a common theme shared between them the inequality and the discrimination on women perpetrated by the society. Various forms of this issue have been discussed, ranging from race, socio-economic, sexuality, and the age and gender factors that make up for the main reasons as to why such unfortunate biases had been prevalent in the annals of human history.
An optimal scenario would be to discard biases and inclinations for such issues that concern the very importance of women, and to treat all members that make up our society as equals in their own struggles for self-identity. Particularly, society must possess the sensitivity to accept differences in each others uniqueness, and be respectful of the rights that ought to be innate for every one of us. Lastly, no member of the society, irrespective of his perceived immateriality, should be imposed upon with dictated principles on how to systematically conform to the sets of standards given by the supposed superior class.
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