Add this to your list of unacceptable body parts: your armpits
Rachel O:
The media, in a series of editing moves, has now deemed them unacceptable and unfit for public consumption.
I’ve wanted to write this piece for awhile and, in light of Britney Spears releasing unretouched photos of herself for the Candie’s campaign, decided it was time. Unfortunately I wasn’t very surprised by the things “enhanced” on Spears’ body – the usual suspects: cellulite, tattoos, blemishes, bruises, slimming of hips, thighs, waist, etc. But lately there’s been a new body part deemed unacceptable by the photo editors at magazines, record labels, etc. – armpits. That’s right ladies, the area under your arm, even when clean shaven has been deemed far too hideous for general public consumption.
I first noticed the trend, while reading Jezebel, as is usually the case with these kinds of things. They posted the cover of British GQ where Anne Hathaway seems to be missing something. Her armpit isn’t just hairless and smoothed by some moisturizing deodorant – it’s not there at all. Just completely gone, just torso side and…arm, with nothing in between. Since then, I’ve come to notice it in other places as well:
Photo stills of Lady Gaga’s music video Telephone:
A Kim Kardashian exercise line campaign:
A photoshoot for Harper’s Bazaar with Megan Fox:
and finally a Sports Illustrated spread:
Apparently that pesky underarm area hinders exercising, dancing, posing, and uh, swimming.
Now it’s just another thing that’s been added to a list of things for the resident photoshopper at any magazine, PR firm, etc. to check off their list, but I think the issue is much bigger than that. Men don’t have to deal with the same “image enhance everything” that is so prevalent when it comes to actresses and pop stars. For example, when Leonardo DiCaprio appeared on the cover of Esquire Magazine, all his stubble, lines, and wrinkles were left intact. For women, this new underarm thing is another flaw that someone in a board room somewhere has decided is not worthy of publication – it must be fixed. It is another issue for women to worry about – another thing for girls to look at and wonder “why don’t I look like that?” and “what can I do to fix it?” These images eventually become the norm, what we think women really look like, or are supposed to.
Anyone who thinks it’s not a big deal? We’re living in a world where Jessica Simpson going without make-up is a big deal. And Glamour publishing a picture of a woman with a belly roll is considered a revolution. So, yeah it’s a problem. We’re in a publishing age, where someone in charge somewhere, looked at a Jennifer Lopez magazine cover, a Ralph Lauren ad, and an image in Maxim Mexico and said “perfect, send that to the printer!”
We need a lot less this:
And a lot more this:
Rachel, you have the eye! I’ve never even noticed this!
Comment by Lani — April 16, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
Thank you! When I saw the Anne Hathaway post on Jezebel it was the first time I noticed it, but it seems to be catching on. I read ONTD quite frequently too (where I saw some of the other pictures) and there were a few comments on each of those posts saying something to the effect of “her armpit area is freaking me out.”
There’s also a bizarre trend of photoshop disasters where there’s a missing hand http://jezebel.com/5033371/photoshop-of-horrors or extra parts http://jezebel.com/5031087/photoshop-of-horrors
Comment by Rachel — April 16, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
How absolutely strange…. Of course, I don’t believe it’s culturally healthy to expect women to look like ‘girls’ either. After all, men are not expected to look like ‘boys,’ now are they?
And yet no one bats an eyelash at this kind of pedophilia.
As a woman, I have an HUGE issue with this for the above reason, but also the underlying message that woman, no matter how beautiful are never ‘good enough,’ and that there is always something ‘wrong’ with us.
Let’s truly be equal and we, as women, must not buy into this commercial BS!
Comment by Rev. Alicia Lyon Folberth — April 16, 2010 @ 9:09 pm
Wow, Rachel, you do have an incredible eye. Great post, LOVE it!
Comment by Marley — April 16, 2010 @ 9:17 pm
Yikes! Unbelievable. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Makes me want to create a zine of armpits of my favorite women. Some counter-propaganda must be created to stop the very likely scenario you mentioned of a young girl looking at a pitless model photoshop creation and wondering “why don’t mine look like that and how can I fix them.”
Off to find something sleeveless to wear.
Comment by Rhonda — April 17, 2010 @ 2:59 am
[...] Waists are made smaller, torsos and legs are elongated and thinned, thighs smoothed and armpits [...]
Pingback by Unretouched Photos: Empowering or Just More ‘Empower-tainment’? : Ms Magazine Blog — April 20, 2010 @ 11:23 am
[...] a few weeks ago, I brought up the fact that armpits are the latest in a string of bodily flaws of women that needs to be airbrushed out. After the [...]
Pingback by Feminist Fatale » Are Belly Buttons The New Armpits? Photoshop Seems To Think So… — August 1, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
As a male, I love women’s armpits. They are sexy and yes, I have noticed the annoying trend of smoothing it out. No wonder girls in LA are looking more and more plastic! UGH.
Comment by Jay — August 19, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
I haven’t noticed this as much although thought it odd that the underarm area was so smooth in magazine ads. Let’s not forget the other unacceptable body part: belly buttons, or at least ones that are too low.
Comment by Tammi — September 22, 2010 @ 11:10 am
@Tammi: We blogged on the belly button phenomenon, too. http://www.feministfatale.com/2010/08/are-belly-buttons-the-new-armpits-photoshop-seems-to-think-so/
Comment by Melanie — September 22, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
That is seriously disgusting. I feel like with the way things are going with all this retouching and such they may as well just be telling women “your bodies are horrible, you’re ugly, and you’ll never be enough” and just get it over with. Women have beautiful bodies-just the way they are-and that is never or rarely acknowledged. Society is too hard on women and destroying the self-esteem of many girls and women across the world.
Comment by Debora — October 20, 2010 @ 2:39 pm
Its crazy how armpits have become such a big deal for photoshop. You wouldnt think an area that is barely even seen is considered a target place for perfection. This is ridiculious and at this point women should just give up on life, they are seen as imperfect beings that are never good enough! this is why many young women across the globe are suffering from eating and other mental disorders
Comment by Delyla M. — October 20, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
Now that you’ve pointed out the disappearance of the armpits in those photos, it actually looks kind of scary. The fact that I couldn’t even notice that shows how unimportant and ridiculous it is to try and retouch it. It’s not necessary and it’s just creating faker and faker images for women around the world to see. Soon these images are going to look like plastic dolls and won’t look like real people at all. I really hope we don’t get to that point.
Comment by Sharon R. — October 21, 2010 @ 12:52 am
I have not noticed the trend of women smoothing out their armpits. This is the first time that I have heard or read anything about this. By the media women that not just like this women are imperfect. This is what causes them to have these surgeries on places that are barley noticeable. Personally I think that it is disgusting.
Comment by Joshua. S — October 21, 2010 @ 11:37 am
I always wondered how on earth did women on cover magazines have such smooth armpits and not a cinch of hair follicle. I was thinking that these models must have gone through a thorough and painful waxing process to get rid of their armpit hair. This critique of unwanted hair pits has been brought to my attention before. A few years ago, an actress named MoNique appeared at the golden globes with unshaved hairy legs. She was heavily ridiculed for it by the media for causing a controversial gross scene. Her decision to appear in a beautiful gown with hairy legs was even deemed disrespectful to the golden globes event.
Take a look at the evidence below to see Monique’s appearance at various events:
http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/MoNique_Has_Hairy_Legs_Photos.jpg
http://static.entertainmentwise.com/photos/Image/430hairylegsmoniwue.jpg
Whatever happen to freedom of expression? It seems like society these days are shooting women down that don’t follow the societal expectations for our gender.
Comment by Joanne S. — October 22, 2010 @ 2:29 pm
I find it absurd that armpits are getting photo-shopped, I think the next thing coming is making them smaller through plastic surgery. The publishers are making our “imperfections” stand out and cause us to stress and deal with ridiculous ideas.
Comment by Dalal C. — October 25, 2010 @ 11:57 pm
I have actually noticed this a couple years ago because I used to be insecure about my armpits, they were to dark due to shaving…luckily I no longer have those insecurities. I wonder when they started photo shopping the armpit?
Comment by Leora Sheily — April 19, 2011 @ 5:43 pm
I have definitely noticed some really weird photoshopped pictures, me and my best friend make it a game to try to find pictures in ads and magazines that are the most photoshopped. I don’t even get it, women already have to worry about being too fat, too dark, too pale, too hairy, and now they have to freak out about their armpits!?
Comment by Danielle G. — April 20, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
Why the armpit needs to even be considered during a photo shoot is beyond me. The industry is getting more and more out of hand soon things like elbows and knees are going to start being retouched.
Comment by Shawn S — June 1, 2011 @ 5:32 pm
These images of photo shopped underarms make it that much harder for women to fit the image of the “ideal” woman. Underarms are not one color, they are not smooth, and they don’t blend in with teh color of your arm. As if we didn’t have enough problems. These images give men and women an unrealistic image and makes them expect this when arms are lifted. NEWSFLASH: your in for a surprise.
Comment by Tiffany Majdipour — November 1, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
Oh my goodness, this armpit thing is so ridiculous. As if we don’t have enough things to watch out for but now, our armpits.
It’s so stupid. That picture of Kimora is so scary.
It really makes me scared for how bad it’s going to be for the later generations.
Comment by Michelle A — November 2, 2011 @ 4:04 pm
Wow, I’ve never noticed this trend before. I can’t even begin to describe how ridiculous this whole photo-shopping the armpit thing is. Not only are they trying to manipulate us into believing those images are real, now they are also trying to make us believe we don’t have armpits too!
Comment by Nicole S. — November 2, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
The trend of eliminating the presence of the armpit in such mainstream images is quite disturbing. I have never really thought about this serious issue until reading this highly thought-provoking post. Women’s armpits are very sensitive areas in which all sorts of glands and lymph nodes are present. If women begin to think that their armpits are distasteful, then there could be even more damage done to such a sensitive area of our bodies. Many of us, in an effort to eliminate odor and perspiration, already use mainstream deodorants that contain aluminum and a whole array of cancer causing chemicals – all of which are not good for women’s health.
In East Indian Ayurvedic medicine, the armpit is given quite a lot of healing attention. The armpit is an area of the body that is important to stretch and elongate through the practice of yoga, in order to promote healthy blood flow in the glands and in the entire lymph system. Thus, we need to recognize and protect these sensitive areas of our bodies and not be influenced into believing that our armpits are ugly or distasteful.
Comment by Nilu V. — November 6, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
It’s so sad when looking at the growing list of things that are deemed unsavory in the eye of the media. Why don’t they just use robot women and cut out the middle man? It’s incredibly difficult growing up in a world that expects you to even remotely resemble the women that splash the pages of the magazines, it is detrimental physically, mentally and emotionally. How are we supposed to begin to feel good about ourselves when we’re being told armpits are unnatural?
Comment by Nisha CM — January 18, 2012 @ 9:11 pm
I had never notice that armpits were being airbrushed. what is so wrong with having armpits? Do we really need something else to feel insecure about really? These magazines need to stop producing unrealistic views on women. They should just have cartoon characters on the cover since they don’t care what real women look like.
Comment by Mirian M — January 20, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
This article made me realize the increasing way in which mass media is constantly trying to change and enhance a women’s body in order to deem it more “beautiful” and socially acceptable. But, they have gone too far with this whole “armpit” thing. An armpit is a natural, normal part of a human body. In fact, these spreads that show the armpit being hidden seem very posed and rather uncomfortable. There is an extreme double standard when it comes to men in mass media posing with their “armpits” as this is even viewed as not only acceptable, but sexy and attractive. Also, I agree that there should be more “plus-sized” models on the covers of magazines. This is in fact the more prevalent body type and should be given equal if not more attention than the thousands of images of tall, thin models we see everyday and are compared to.
Comment by Camille Yona — January 29, 2012 @ 9:21 pm
What a silly concept that even an armpit is too much of an ‘interruption’ in the body that it needs to be smoothed over and forgotten. I’m pretty sure there is not a person in the world without an armpit and it’s ridiculous to try to pretend we don’t have them. This only leads me to question what will be next. Will we soon be erasing the bellybutton? Glossing over knees? At what point will we become one-dimensional figures on the page? Where we’re so featureless it looks as though vaseline has been smeared over the lens? This is just one more thing women have to look at and compare themselves to when perusing media images nowadays.
Comment by Antonia C. — January 30, 2012 @ 11:37 am
FAKE. That’s what the media wants from a woman. For her to be like barbie; an unrealistic image that no matter how they try, a REAL woman will never look like that. In that photo of Lady Gaga, she looks like a doll. They probably photshopped every little thing of her in that photo. Its ridiculous of how far the media has come that even armpits has to be photoshopped.
Comment by Kammira B — February 4, 2012 @ 3:05 pm
This is just another example of the type of world we live in nowadays. It is pretty ridiculous that even the most minimal part of our body such as our armpits seem to cause such a huge commotion in this image industry. Trying to make women look extremely perfect is rather making them look fake. Fake like a maniquin or better yet a Barbie. Why cant they just expose women like they really look? Wait, I know, because they would not gain the same amount of money, they want to gain not lose money by showing womens natural beauty. Photoshop is the best ally to having a perfect and ideal looking women within this society nowadays, who knows how far this is going to go.
Comment by Yesenia O — February 4, 2012 @ 5:27 pm
I think most magazine covers model’s bodies are fake because photoshop is very developed and they can fix whatever they want. They are using photoshop working for photo. Even me, when I am taking photo, I am using photoshop like easing my freckles, or making slam for arms and legs. Most photos are making unrealistic and these images are making inspiration to audiences.
Comment by Eun Hee Chung — February 4, 2012 @ 6:39 pm
I believe that there’s no unacceptable body part. All body parts are important for all human being. Although majority of people think bellybutton is unacceptable part, I personally think that belly button is the most sexiest part of the body.
Comment by Youjung An — February 4, 2012 @ 8:38 pm
People are following the trend of armpits. People use armpits in every magazine covers. However, they never think about that they will affect the trend of the whole society. They make girls are tired to follow the cover models.
Comment by Lam Yan Yee — February 4, 2012 @ 11:23 pm
The media is clearly shaping the minds of kids and teenagers these days and pretty much altering their views of how the human body. Yes, we all know photoshop exists… and yet we still continue to constantly buy and compare our own bodies to the altered images that are in these magazines. Altering something as small as the armpit, is one of the many reasons that most people in our generation today feel uncomfortable and self-conscious about their own bodies which should all be considered beautiful in their own way.
Comment by Gabriel Y. — February 5, 2012 @ 9:22 am
Wow why am I not surprised that the media has added another item onto this beauty list that women need to follow?!? Something as simple as armpits is now unacceptable and has to be altered with the use of the medias best friend, photoshop. This is so absurd, they might as well srart using dolls as their models because slowly by slowly human bodies aren’t good enough. This in turn leads men finding it hard to accept a real woman the way she should be portrayed which is what’s causing women to do anything to achieve these unattainable looks!
Comment by Rosemary A — February 5, 2012 @ 5:51 pm
This is over the top. It’s no surprise that media would go above and beyond to support such images. The reality that it is actually happening is scary. Always being so engaged with media I never noticed this armpit thing. This just shows what a threatening world we live in, especially as women. We have so many standards to live up to. And now we cannot go by without “perfect” armpits – or an armpit? This all just goes into play with accepting what a real woman is
Comment by Sahar S — February 6, 2012 @ 10:05 am
I am highly shocked to see the way that photoshop has spun out of control in the past few years. At one time this software was only used to make small adjustments to a person body not for the removal of entire sections of your body. To me seeing these ads is disgusting and makes me realize just how fake everyone and everything I see in the media is fake. For me I don’t see anything wrong with an underarm or an armpit. It’s just a part of your body like any other part and shouldn’t need to be edited out like this. I really hope marketers stop practices like this and let women’s bodies be how they are; unedited, unretouched and natural!
Comment by Rory O — February 6, 2012 @ 4:45 pm
I am surprised to learn that now they are doing Photoshop to erase the armpit. Really, I think that now they have taken to an extreme. I knew that majority or all the ad pictures were photo shopped but not they will make them looked even more fake with them making changes to an armpit’s would not be surprised if people start being more concerned about their armpits, especially because they do not look like the models one. However, in reality no ones armpits would naturally like that. I have never liked my armpits because if I shave them by the morning in the after I would have the black dots of the growing hair. However, I wonder if I am going to became more aware and worried regarding it. I honestly think that I will not be falling in that trend because I know that they are not real armpits.
Comment by Analila B. — March 11, 2012 @ 12:21 am
I was happy to see this post because I have noticed this trend too! Recently, I have been really fascinated with the beauty world that is online, meaning beauty “gurus” that uploaded videos onto YouTube teaching other girls about their “beauty secrets”. Thousands of girls watch these videos and are so wrapped up into what the latest trend is, and a trend I have seen some of these gurus talk about are ways to make your armpits look “pretty”. I have never really heard about this before until I started searching around and found that there are a lot of “Do it yourself, pretty armpit recipes” online. Before reading this post I couldn’t pin point why there was so much focus in the beauty community online on making your armpits look “nice”. Now I see it’s because girls around the world are seeing these images of celebrities and models in magazines with armpits that look just like their arms, smooth and all one color! But these images aren’t the truth. These celebrities and models are completely touched up on with Photoshop and now real girls in real life are being really hard on themselves for not being able to mimic these porcelain images in magazine spreads. I think that it was great for Britney Spears to reveal her untouched image compared to the one that was worked on and that Jessica Simpson wasn’t too afraid to be on the front cover on a magazine without makeup, but these examples are just so rare. Not enough women in pop culture are confident enough or willing to be seen as they really are so in return we get girls and women who are so unhappy with themselves because they are trying to reach an unreachable goal. I really hope in the future so will be able to see more naturalness in magazines and in media in general. -D.O.
Comment by Destiny O — March 15, 2012 @ 2:14 pm
I never really noticed this part of the body disappearing from women in photos or music videos. This is just gone too far. Not only does the women get edited from her face but to make her armpits just disappear is not right. I remember when I used to look at magazines when I was going through my weird teen days I told my mom I felt that my body was deformed because I did not look like Britney Spears. I don’t think I have ever seen a magazine in which a person is not photo shopped. The magazines that claim to show natural beauty is a total lie. I want to see magazines with women that I can look at an say WOW, She is truly beautiful. I feel that the photos with the celebrities with no armpits look really weird. I think the photo shopping and people in charge making these decisions will not change until people speak out. If celebrities allow this to continue without any say, then they will never stop.
Comment by Ana B — March 26, 2012 @ 10:49 am
I think it is appaling how women are disected for the male gaze. We are picked apart and then put back together in magazines. I had seen an article about a woman that was made up of other women’s parts. The editor in charge of the photoshopping decided to take the eyes from someone beautiful bet felt that they did not belong to the original face, so he put it together with someone elses nose, lips, cheeks, chin and hairline and presto! He had a perfect woman. What is aggravating is that I remember idolizing women in magazines when I was younger and would post pictures of them all over my room. I developed an eating disorder starting at the age of 9 going well through my early 20′s with a picture in my head that I had to look like these pictures. I never fully realized how much retouching and photoshopping goes into these images but it is frightening to think that when we thought it could not get any worse the media and those in “charge” have decided women do not need armpits because somehow that too is hideous to look at.
Comment by Nancy Rodriguez — March 28, 2012 @ 12:16 pm
When I look at women in magazines as a man I frequently don’t find them attractive. A woman needs to be a woman, her flaws should be owned and she should love her self. Women are beautiful beings in and of themselves and trying to alter and edit a picture is terribly sad. The armpit is a natural thing, its almost disgusting the amount of Photoshopping that is done to our stars. It is not real. Not only does this affect women’s ability to feel confident about their real and natural bodies but it also affects men’s ability to find a mate. As the public we are being trained to want women who are perfect, no belly fat, no arm pit hair, no zits, etc. This isn’t realistic and frankly women who are sticks aren’t sexual appealing to a man.
Comment by Mohit Sharma — March 28, 2012 @ 2:48 pm
Photoshop and air brushing have become a pheromone of the magazines , covering up pimples, cellulite, and wrinkles. I never know it would become this drastic and now it’s covering and brushing up the armpit. The idea that the media has only a one dimensional side of beauty has gone way too far. No one is perfect, everyone has flaws there is no need to cover up what make you, you.
Comment by Erica T — March 29, 2012 @ 10:49 am
Yes! Somebody makes that decision to say what looks right and what doesn’t. In my eyes, women have not come very far from being the repressed housewife to being sold as sex objects on T.V. and magazine covers. Women continue to be put out there as sex objects and to only please a man. Why else do these continue to be sold? It seems as though money means more to these women than respect. Do you think men respect that you have fake boobs and butt hanging out? As a woman, I don’t respect it.
Comment by Salina G — March 29, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
This trend is something that I first noticed back when I was in High School and I was watching a Beyonce video and I said to myself “Whoa her armpits are so smooth, what does she do to them”. Thus began my journey into researching moisturizing deodorants, loofahs, scrubs, laser hair removal. I even found out that some women were getting Botox injections in their armpits to reduce sweating. After I finished my extensive research into how was going to get my armpits to look just like Beyonces, (which as crazy as it seems to me now I was sincerely obsessed about it then) I found out that her armpits didn’t look as smooth as they appeared on TV in real life. I then began to become outraged that the media felt the need to Photoshop armpits and then I was ashamed that I allowed myself to fall victim to the social influences and pressures that the media is constantly inflicting on our society. The need to gloss over armpits is just ridiculous it sends the message to women that it has become yet another part of our anatomy to be ashamed of and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I wonder how this decision to eradicate the world of armpits came about. Who decided that armpits were just too hideous to look at on the female body, and more importantly why hasn’t someone within the media rebelled against this new norm. More people need to start speaking out about the over use of Photoshop before it gets so out of control and the bodies portrayed in the media stop resembling anything close to a real woman.
Comment by Ajalah T. — March 31, 2012 @ 9:15 pm
In the first place, it is very sad in reality that everything is very true. We see how media portrays in every celebrity life that enforces them to be a certain way in life. Not only it makes me wonder how these celebrities are feeling inside of themselves, but it makes me wonder if they are actually happy with themselves. This then relates how celebrities are not just doing this to themselves, but it shows how in today’s society, this is what we face everyday people trying to fit into society. What is so sad to me is that even people’s armpits are being a huge deal in the industry by having them a certain way. First, we see how people do surgery’s to have bigger boobs, or being butt, but when I read this, I thought this is ridiculous. When we see this happening, it makes me wonder what people come up with for a person to be criticize for any little scratch or birth mark that they might have. This is completely sad and awful how we don’t see the “natural beauty” within people in todays society since they are being so worried about what people are going to say about their body since they are going crazy with not having a “perfect body.” This then demonstrates how these celebrities don’t really know how a perfect body looks like since they are never happy with their body. We see how many men and women want to look “perfect” according to what they thing is a “perfect body” and then they really don’t realize how much make-up that leads them by looking extremely fake instead of perfect. At last, everyone want to look the best they can, but I believe looking the best, instead of looking “fake” are issues we are faced with daily people trying to look fake and updating photos using photo shop to impress other people that don’t acknowledge the true beauty a person could look by being themselves.
Comment by Alicia S. — April 3, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
I have honestly noticed this armpit ordeal many times and I have caught myself looking at the model, actress or singer and then looking at myself in the mirror lifting up my arm and saying to myself, “How come my armpit doesn’t look like that?” Ridiculous, I know but after reading this I can fully realize that there is retouching done on these photographs or videos and that women do not naturally look like that. It is very troubling to see that a body part can be deemed unacceptable, I mean they are a part of us! We do not choose the way they look, they just are what they are. I can promise now that I will no longer look from the model to myself and say “my armpit doesn’t look like that” because no ones do in reality. I am learning to love myself for what it is instead of comparing it to what is not real.
Comment by Jessica Serrano — April 4, 2012 @ 9:30 pm
I recently became aware of this trend when I noticed that models’ armpits had become either perfectly smooth or just Photoshoped. Of course it is Photoshop, but in fact it is true it gave me something else to worry about. Now not only do I have to be concerned with flawless skin, thinness, perfect hair, perfect breast but now I have armpits to worry about as well. The perfect image of beauty the media sells us has become impossible to achieve. We are spending tremendous amounts of money, time and energy trying to achieve those false images of beauty. Men are allowed to have wrinkles, flaws, and hair but in women that is sickening. We feel guilty and ashamed when we do not achieve that image. That impossible ideal is destroying society. Young girls and grown women suffer with mental illnesses, anorexia, and other illnesses when they become aware they cannot achieve that impossible ideal image.
Comment by lizbeth Hurtado — April 10, 2012 @ 8:48 pm
Wow! I never even noticed this in advertisements but I think I might start paying more attention. I have to admit when I look at magazines I always think the reason I can’t look “this good” is because I don’t have the money to buy expensive products or I don’t have the expertise to create these looks. I guess now I should really think, “the reason I can’t seem to look like this is because I can’t walk around the world photo finished and touched up.” It really irritates me when I hear the media picking on celebrities for being fat or old looking or anything else for that matter. When I see people making Jessica Simpson’s “fat picture” the latest breaking news I think to myself gosh I know how badly I feel when I see a photo where I was over relaxed and look fat. I can only imagine how bad celebrities must feel when people criticize them so harshly. I have always felt arm pits are not the most beautiful body part but it really annoys me that they have totally made them disappear. It makes me think of all the products, treatments, techniques, and even surgeries women go through to try and achieve a look that is literally impossible to achieve.
Comment by Patrina C — April 14, 2012 @ 6:56 pm
All that I can say is that I am truly disgusted at the lengths that the media and people go to in order to make these people in magazines look “perfect”. Unfortunately by photo shopping to the lengths that they do shows that nobody is perfect and that by photo shopping it the way they do is what is known to be “perfect”. I’ve always thought when looking at pictures in ads that the armpits look funny, like maybe it’s not shaped properly, but now I see that it’s just not existent in those types of pictures. Just as the article mentioned this is just another thing added to the list to photo shop. Unfortunately men don’t have to go through the same list when it comes to photo shopping and ads. For men in society, it’s as though aging for them is sexy and attractive, but for women it’s not. Thus men are able to take pictures and not worry about photo shop. This causes a problem for women because it makes us think “I want to look like that” and “What can I do to be that way”. This is the gateway to problems like dieting, eating disorders, and going to extreme lengths to attempt to be like the pictures in the magazines. Society is taught that looking that way is the norm and that’s what women are supposed to look like, though we all know it’s not possible or true whatsoever. Unfortunately we are living in a very shallow world in some ways.
Comment by CandaceR — April 15, 2012 @ 8:00 pm
We are emeresed in a cesspool of media messages telling us that we are not right, there is something wrong with us, that we could be better, that we need to be “better.” I thought that after years of my own recovery journey with eating disorders and body image issues, it would be easy to spot and stave off negative messages through different forms of media and advertising, but that hasn’t been the case. As aware as I feel I have become, I am definitely susceptible to the tricks that advertisers are using. I have seen how quickly my “decerning” eye can fall back into a familiar place of blind acceptance of what I am viewing, and that it is “right,” and something to strive for. It seems as though advertisers have no limits when it comes to selling us an item or lifestyle. So, it worries me, being someone who has worked really hard to attain recovery and health from an eating disorder, that if I am still deep in the trenches of armpit-less imagery, what is in store for our young girls today?
Comment by Natalie P. — April 16, 2012 @ 9:24 pm
Publishing has taken ethic to a newer level. In my opinion as a journalist, it is unethical to retouch an image sending false pretenses to the audience. At one point in time, I even looked at magazine covers and wondered how come these “covergirls” had no armpits. It was like they had no razor bump or anything typical. It is insane that publishers use severe editing to enhance women and do little to nothing for me. This is why so many women are comfortable and seeking “grungy” men. Because the media has deemed it to be acceptable for men to have flaws. However, with the heavy regulation on women about beauty, and the falsity of the images produced of women through the media… men find it unacceptable for women to have flaws. This again attributes to the lack of self-esteem in women and why so many place themselves under high scrutiny because they feel as if they do not fit the characteristics of beauty.
Comment by Brandy S. — April 16, 2012 @ 10:39 pm
After reading this i found myself a culprit for trying to achieve the perfect armpit. I think it’s funny that I, along with many other people I hope, try to master the art of the flawless pit! When i asked myself why I spend so much time on trying to obtain the impossible, instantly an airbrushed image of a celebrity or random model at that, pops up in my head. I am almost embarrassed to say that I am doing exactly what a team of marketing geniuses want me to do. I know the image of that hairless, subtle- free pit has gone through hours of computer retouch, but subconciously I still believe i can achieve such an arm pit.
The media is constantly telling you no, and offering you products that will make you a yes! Thats the goal, money, and apparently attacking your self esteem. It just so happens that displaying an image of a glorified celebrity will speed up the process.
I think this issue becomes a big deal when we are more worried about buying some super technologically advanced razor that will give us armpits as “photo-shopped” as Kim Kardashian, rather than where our next meal may come from.
Comment by Raven G — April 18, 2012 @ 6:15 pm
WOW. Maybe I was being naive, but I never thought that underarms were airbrushed I really would think to myself why my underarms didn’t look like what I saw on TV and magazines. Makes me wonder what, if anything is left untouched in tje media. I get that it’s unattractive, I think underarms and cellulite and visible veins and body/facial hair is ugly, but I am also fully aware that it’s realty. On the other hand, I think that media are not only telling us that it’s unattractive, but that it’s not a real part of the woman, and this is what is enraging. I wonder what body part will be next? Goodness, I am so glad I’m married- I won’t have to worry about first impressons on a guy who’s mind is so badly skewed.
Comment by FabiolaP — April 22, 2012 @ 4:00 pm
It is so strange to me that armpits are now the new victims of photo retouching. Its just another body part to add to the list of parts that women already feel they need to be self-conscious about. I have never even thought to look at armpits and think of them as beautiful or not. They are a body part that everyone has and why should it even be an issue! It seems like there is a never ending list of things women need to worry about and make sure they are perfect at all times. I can’t even begin to imagine that type of damage these kinds of things will do to young girls that are highly influenced by these magazines etc. It is sad that women must always feel that they are not good enough even just in their own bodies.
Comment by Kristin F — April 23, 2012 @ 12:17 pm
When I read this article of the whole photo shopping of body parts one cover came to mind quickly. The one photo shopped magazine I just felt ashamed of was the one on Adele in Vogue. Now that is what I call a photo shop disaster. We all know Adele has a beautiful voice but we also know she is not a size zero. However, in the Vogue magazine cover Adele is so photo shopped she can pass by as Kim Kardashian’s sister. I was so proud of Adele when she swept all six Grammy’s because all of her opponents were skinny and thought their sexual videos would win them a Grammy. Adele proved to everyone that sex sells videos aren’t what make a good artist. Another reason why I was proud of Adele was because she got called fat by a famous designer and she stood up for herself. However, after seeing the magazine cover I just questioned myself, does she know about this and how can she allow something like this to happen? It is clearly that the magazine is stating being skinny is beautiful.
http://www.whydidyouwearthat.com/2012/02/15/would-you-wednesday-photoshop-foolery/whydid-adele-vogue-cover-photoshop/
Comment by Jovanna G — April 24, 2012 @ 10:28 pm
I never really noticed them Photoshop armpits before, but now that I do, I feel like we have stooped to a new low. The fact that body parts are literally being wiped out in order to maintain “beauty” standards is really shocking. Another point mentioned in the article that I strongly agree with is that there is a huge deal made when someone steps out of the “norm of beauty”, such as Jessica Simpson not wearing makeup or a model showing a little bit of her belly. I think we should all EXPECT this type of change for it to actually occur. Rather than being shocked with natural beauty in the media, we should be shocked by replicated and Photoshopped beauty. It really surprises me that the media has literally found every way to make people feel insecure about themselves. The last point I would like to make is that there is a double standard in the media, just as the Leonardo DiCaprio point was mentioned. A man can go with wrinkles and a whole bunch of other imperfections, while females must be touched and retouched to make the “perfect” image.
Comment by Benjamin B — April 25, 2012 @ 9:01 am
I have never really thought about why I thought my under arms didn’t look perfect but this makes sense. The under arms i’m seeing in the media are not discolored, no red razor bumps and they simply don’t have any pores. Well that should be easy to change, right? These images we are being told are beautiful are not even REAL. It seems so draining to keep trying to look like all these images that are photo shopped. We are never going to be able to attain these looks yet we will keep on trying because society is telling us we will be liked and accepted when we look like this.
Comment by Heather S. — April 26, 2012 @ 8:39 pm
5. When I noticed that all celebrities had perfectly clean armpits, I quickly questioned myself “why are my armpits dirty and dark compare to them? What am I doing wrong?” I felt like it was another thing that I had to work on, not only did I have to work on losing weight, having perfect healthy hair, but now I had to have clean armpits. There was a time when I only wore t shirts because I was not confident to wear spaghetti straps, in fear of revealing my imperfect and unclean armpits. But I realized that these photos were Photoshop and that nobody around me had the same armpits as these celebrities, but they had them exactly like me. Recently I saw that Dove (I believe) came out with a line of deodorant that will help make your armpits lighter. Here is another item that will help us fix our imperfections. It is sad to see that now our armpits are being targeted as something that should be fixed.
Comment by DeniseF — April 27, 2012 @ 12:17 am
Not going to lie, I’m not a fan of my own armpit. But the fact that these photographers are mutilating the armpit is disturbing. I just Google-ed some images of celebs and armpits. What came up is scary. Most of the celebs have armpits of a baby. Fresh and clean to the point that it looks like hair has never grown in that area. And we all know that after a while of re-shaving that area or waxing it does get a little bit darker and bumpy looking. But I the rich are born with perfect armpits. I wonder what other human born body part is next to get the boot. The ears are another popular one. Where photographs either shrink them of hide them. The media is showing us that our imperfections can be changed or hidden for our profit.
Comment by Yadira DiSiena — April 27, 2012 @ 6:05 pm
There are many body parts that i have felt insecure but never have i thought to myself,”Damn, my arm pits are hideous.” Why can’t women be left to live in peace? It seems like the demands from society are getting more and more ridiculous every time. The purpose of arm pits are for cooling off not to attract the opposite sex. I have to admit that although I’ve never considered myself as less attractive because of the way my armpits look I have always questioned why celebrities in magazine ads don’t have armpits like mine. It’s natural for arm pits to have a dark tint yet normal looking armpits have been “deemed as far too hideous for public consumption.” I have heard of women getting rid of their armpit hair with laser hair removal. Changing and enhancing your body is not going make you happier. More women need to realize that happiness will come when you become self accepting and self loving.
Comment by Gaby Valencia — April 29, 2012 @ 1:45 pm
Really? Armpits? When I think about the fact that we have to Photoshop armpits and pretty much make them not exist on a women is getting a little bit to much to handle. I just keep thinking whats going to be next. Are knee caps going to be photo-shopped out of things now. Like come on who gives a crap about armpits. I know we all open a magazine and our first thought is to check and see if they have nice armpits! These poor girls just keep getting slammed with things that we need to be cautious of that at some point there wont be a single part on our bodies that won’t cause insecurities. And the fact that men don’t get attacked with Photoshop nearly as much as women do just goes to show that the double standard is not any where close to being eliminated.Sad.
Comment by Candice G. — April 29, 2012 @ 11:15 pm
I think there’s more pressure for women to look less natural and more sexy thanks to media standards. Men can be hairy, dirty, hairless, and even sometimes fat and still come off sexy. Sex is a business and people will do what ever to make money regardless of whose feeling pressured or oppressed. If the culture deems these superficial images of celebrities as sexy,and a standard then individuals needs to open their eyes and realize that it’s not natural. I personally think it takes a lot effort to live in the shoes of women. So many duties and routines women have to perform in their everyday lives (make up, brush hair, shave, etc).I believe women should have the freedom to express themselves on how they want to look. “What ever floats your boat”.
Comment by Oscar M — April 30, 2012 @ 3:07 pm
Let’s keep on adding to all the Imperfections women have and must fix. Not to long ago i was looking for my wedding dress and I was being absolutely hard on myself. I wanted something that had sleeves so I wouldn’t show my discoloration on my armpits. No luck finding a dress with sleeves until finally i said what the heck am i stressing over my armpits. Everyone out there also has imperfections i am not the only one. I would always be so amazed on all these celebrities and how their armpits were so clean with nothing to be ashamed about. How do they maintain themselves so neat? What am I doing wrong? Duh, its all photoshop!!! Without photoshop no miracles would be granted to all the celebs! I would love to see the real them am sure they would be scary looking all around ..
Comment by Angelica Oseguera — April 30, 2012 @ 6:16 pm
Everyone has armpits. EVERYONE. Why photoshop it to look like they don’t exist? What is wrong with armpits? Like seriously, what the hell. I can’t even get over the fact that someone came up with the idea to do this. It’s just like the bellybutton thing. Everyone has one, but someone somewhere decided to completely delete them out of photos. Are women not human enough to have these things? I mean we were made “in the image of a man”. Maybe man wants these body parts back. They don’t in any way look ugly. These are natural things on our bodies. It’s not like eliminating wrinkles, or thinning someone out. We are being picked apart one little body part at a time. We aren’t even good enough to share body parts with men apparently, because they get to keep them in their pictures. What is this world coming to? What’s next, erasing feet from our pictures too?
Comment by Katy S — April 30, 2012 @ 8:50 pm
I thought it was bad enough removing all the other imperfections from a women with photoshop but armpits being removed or smothed out to look better i think thats rediculous. All this is doing is just adding more things to the list that women or young gicrls feel like they have to fix about themselves. I amde this coment on the other blog about belly buttons as well and that was “how much more can you really fix with photoshop?” Once again we are looking at images that are not real, however when young girls look at these images they are not aware of that and do anything to try to achive the goal of looking that way. Now besides worrying about there hips, thigs, legs ect. they also have to worry about their armpits as well.
Comment by Luis G. — April 30, 2012 @ 11:25 pm
As if women didn’t have enough to worry about, now we have to worry about our armpits. Airbrushing and Photoshop are so common that it’s almost unrealistic to look at a picture on a magazine and view it in its natural untouched state. Women are constantly bombarded with images of what’s beautiful and what we should strive for, however the standards are getting increasingly difficult and impossible to achieve. Magazine editors really are going to a new level, now women are expected to have non-existent armpits! It’s not like exercise or even a surgery can achieve this new standard for armpits, it’s pretty much impossible for women to eliminate their armpits and look like Kim Kardashian does in a magazine. It’s so sad because most people will look at these magazine covers and think its natural and common for women to have armpits that look like this, when in reality it’s pretty rare. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “dark” armpits are seen as ugly whereas white and invisible armpits are considered “beautiful and normal”. I think it’s sad more and more body parts in women are becoming scrutinized, what’s worse is that hardly anyone questions these standards for beauty media is creating.
Comment by Scarlett G — May 1, 2012 @ 12:41 pm
Who ever thought that an armpit could be considered so unattractive? This new trend has definitely surfaced, and has become the mainstream norm. A few of my girlfriends refuse to wear tank tops, swimsuits, or anything that reveals their underarms to the world. I cannot believe that women are now being made to feel insecure about their armpits! The amount of photo-shop in images, and advertisements really baffle me. Who makes these decisions, and who photoshops these images? Men and women are being subconsciously tricked into thinking these images are real, that they are normative. How are we able to efficiently judge people when we are comparing real life people to fake images? Men and women are now only finding these fantasy images appealing. This can be very damaging to women especially. While men may not find many real life women attractive, women are hating themselves, and their bodies. The damaging effects of the media continue to amaze me, I wonder what body part they will photoshop next!
Comment by Deirdre D. — May 1, 2012 @ 8:14 pm
I can honestly say I hadn’t noticed this new trend in the Photoshop world. I guess this is so because I don’t pay much attention to every body parts in ads and media, but its pretty interesting to read that more and more female body parts are retouched and edited in order to reach “perfection”. I wouldn’t have figured that an armpit would need retouching; I thought shaving your armpit was fine enough, but now it needs to be edited. This increasing list of female body parts that are retouched are redefining an ideal of beauty and reinforcing an ideal of perfection that is unattainable. In effect, women are affected in the way they see themselves as a comparison to women in the social media.
Comment by Cynthia M. — May 2, 2012 @ 11:50 am
I can honestly say I hadn’t noticed this new trend in the Photoshop world. I guess this is so because I don’t pay much attention to every body parts in ads and media, but its pretty interesting to read that more and more female body parts are retouched and edited in order to reach “perfection”. I wouldn’t have figured that an armpit would need retouching; I thought shaving your armpit was fine enough, but now it needs to be edited. This increasing list of female body parts that are retouched are redefining an ideal of beauty and reinforcing an ideal of perfection that is unattainable. In effect, women are affected in the way they see themselves as a comparison to women in the social media.
Comment by Cynthia M. — May 2, 2012 @ 11:50 am
I’m not going to lie, I don’t believe I will ever fully understand the insecurities of women who Photoshop things out of their pictures or will I understand why companies change so much about these women on covers of magazines and ads. It was a little strange when pointed out that these women no longer have arm pits in these photos, I hadn’t even noticed that before and I believe that is what the ad companies were going for when printing these pictures. I am glad that someone brought this to my attention so that I could add to my already negative ideals on magazine covers like these to where they only show beautiful skinny photo shopped women that if you “buy this magazine and follow these six steps you can look like this too” ad. It is a little ridiculous the amount of things that are cut out and air brushed to make look better but I would have never thought of arm pits as being one of them. I mean where does it end? They are slowly starting to get rid of all the body’s natural features, it’s not like someone with arms can actually live without an arm pit, what body part are they going to cut out next?
Comment by Kincaidw — May 2, 2012 @ 11:07 pm
I don’t see why we even need celebrities. If we can use photoshop to make people why bother having real people. The media photoshops everything to the smallest deatail. Advertisers should have to give some type warning message or caption on their ads citing that not everything in the image that is seen is true or real.
Comment by AL P — May 8, 2012 @ 9:53 am
I never really noticed this trend until now. It is interesting to see what the media and magazines are willing to photoshop on women to make them seem “perfect” or “desirable”. It seems ridiculous though to make something as small and natural as an armpit needing to look acceptable. They are trying to mold women into these models that are almost unobtainable for any “normal” person to obtain.
Comment by Kristin Singleton — May 8, 2012 @ 1:23 pm
What, you don’t think that image of that plus-sized model is airbrushed to the nines? She may be larger but you can still see that her legs and face have been ‘shopped I’m willing to bet that her hair has as well. Heck, she doesn’t even have a shadow!
Pot, meet kettle.
Comment by Erin H — May 9, 2012 @ 9:50 pm
This article literally made me laugh out loud. Who decided that the armpit was now unacceptable? This just sheds light on how unrealistic media potrayals of women really are. I dont care if you just shaved or lasered your armpit two minutes ago, nobody’s armpit looks like that. No armpit is perfect and nor should it be perfect.As women we need to embrace ourselves and our bodies as they are, imperfect armpits and all.
Comment by Sophia S. — May 10, 2012 @ 10:53 pm
I think it is embarrassing to Photoshop one’s armpit. Looking at those pictures it doesn’t look appealing and unnatural. Who care about any one’s armpits? I mean at longest it clean and shave it’s all that matter should matter. The media and the magazines are going to far with this one. Yes, I do agree that there should me more celebrities that don’t care about their armpits and just posing natural without being photoshoped. I think being natural without hiding the flaws is the beauty of being unique.
Comment by Karen Acevedo — May 11, 2012 @ 10:08 am
To be quite straightforward, I have never really taken notice to this new trend. I was unaware that the underarms of models and actresses were being photoshopped at such an alarming rate. The primary reason why I failed to recognize this trend is probably due to my own insecurities about my armpits. Many may disregard my self-consciousness as trivial in comparison to all of the other problems people are afflicted with. I realize that I am being pretentious by concerning myself with this petty matter, but it truly has always caused me anguish. I have even resorted to visiting my dermotologist in hopes of finding a resolution for my slightly discolored underarms. To this day, I will not raise my arms up and expose my armpits because I find them very off-putting. I understand the apprehension models and actresses may face when they are asked to show their armpits. Personally, I would appreciate my armpits being photoshopped due to my intense dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, the portrayal of women in their most natural state would most likely ameliorate some of the damage that has been incurred as a result of over the top editing. Witnessing my favorite celebrity with her imperfect armpits in an ad campaign could possibly serve as the impetus I need to overcome my self-doubt. Inarguably, the media’s use of photoshop has been used in a grossly exaggerated fashion. At what point does it become false advertisement? No one has flawless skin without the help of a little airbrushing. Editing sells products, but simultaneously sustains lies and fabrication. Photoshop has given the media an indelible source of power; I pray that it is not too late to eradicate some of the havoc it has perpetuated for decades.
Comment by Nicole Z. — May 11, 2012 @ 5:16 pm
I have actually noticed this too and it is absolutely ridiculous. The media finds a new thing to fix all the time. They fix things that did not need to be fixed in the first place. Armpits are a natural thing that EVERY single person has. I do not understand. Are ears going to be removed next?? This just shows how corrupt the media is and what a poor sense of reality these companies have. Removing something such as cellulite is slightly more understandable because some people actually do not have cellulite; however, removing something that everyone has such as armpits is ridiculous. This sends out a horrible message to girls, because it makes it seem like there is always something wrong with us, and that we can never be perfect. Some girls might not realize how much photo-shopping goes on, and they might actually compare themselves to the models and celebrities in the images. It is also recently that Dove has come out with new deodorants promising smoother or more even toned underarms, and I wonder if they would have created these products even without ads like these. I am disgusted to see how far the media has gone with its photo-shopping and I really hope this ends.
Comment by Nicole D — May 11, 2012 @ 5:58 pm
This is definitely getting ridiculous. The crazy thing is that I didn’t notice these armpits were airbrushed until it was brought to my attention. I have friends who are doing lightening treatments to their armpits currently. Their insecurity and desire to “fix themselves” was probably in part, related to the media and lack of “real” armpit exposure. Honestly what is the world coming to? When people think celebrity news is real news, and armpits are being removed from media photos. These trends are ridiculous and are brainwashing society to be ignorant drones. Worrying more about looking perfect then the important things in life. That is why there are so many people, especially in LA, who go buy the Mercedes, but do not have any money left to put gas in the car. The media needs to be stopped. In other countries it is not like this. In France commercial time is cut down and only in certain segments of the day and celebrities are protected by privacy laws and are not constantly being photographed by paparazzi. And the people in France are concerned with world news and current events. Not what some celebrity with a baby named after a fruit did at the Grove.
Comment by S.Lockey — May 11, 2012 @ 10:51 pm
I never really noticed anything, until this article pointed it out. This type of editing things out of pictures puts an unreasonable request for women to hold up to. Women who look at these magazines see these women as the standard that you must live up to, but those women are not even themselves on the covers. Working in a Starbucks, I have meet a few famous people and I always thought there is something weird about them when I see them in public. What I noticed is that they just look a lot more normal and down to earth that they do in those magazine covers.
Comment by Matthew Smit — May 12, 2012 @ 1:28 pm
This is a trend that has been spreading like wildfire between my friends and I. After seeing an episode of Keeping up With the Kardashians where the sisters were getting laser hair removal, i started to question if that was the reason why their armpits looked so good. Images like these foster feelings of insecurity from people who see them because it heightens the standard of beauty that we are all trying to live up to. Its sad to say i have been on the market for an armpit lightening treatment. “You are your toughest critic”. Especially when the people your society hold in high regard (celebrities) look NOTHIGN like you.
Comment by Corrin M. — May 13, 2012 @ 6:02 pm