Shame on You: Cosmetic Surgery and Class Transformation in '10 Years Younger’

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This article critically engages with the gender and class politics of contemporary makeover shows. Taking the British TV series 10 Years Younger as case study, it is argued that cosmetic surgery is being legitimized as a form of female empowerment within media discourse through narratives of individual choice and self-liberation. Whilst ‘transformations’ are figured as attainable to all women, they serve to reinforce class differences by identifying certain kinds of bodies as worthless, leaving unquestioned the cultural and economic resources required for access to and maintenance of the surgically transformed body.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Big Reveal: Lifestyle TV
EditorsGareth Palmer
Place of PublicationAldershot, UK
PublisherAshgate
Pages83-99
Number of pages17
ISBN (Print)9780754674306
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008

Keywords

  • cosmetic surgery, lifestyle TV, class, gender

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