1. While reading Douglas’ essay, Narcissism as Liberation, I couldn’t help but notice the author’s tedious and redundant references to women’s bodies in the context of media. She was very repetitive with her point – women should not have to work out their bodies religiously or diet to the point of starvation – yes, we know, we know. But she also goes on and on with her theories of exercise and the popularity of a toned body and “sculpted thighs” that went along with the 1980’s compulsive exercising fad that swept the nation. These examples are not relevant to today’s standards of women as portrayed in the media. In particular, her reference to the college girls who refuse to show themselves while walking to the pool and her self-consciousness while in their vacinity, revealed nothing more than one woman’s body naturally evolving with age. 

2. The idea of “deconstruction” is presented throughout the essay – it shows readers how women fall victim to the beautiful images of flawless models they see in magazines - little do they know how much goes into making these images appear perfect in almost every way. Deconstruction is making ourselves knowledgeable and therefore aware and cautious of the beauty industry’s tactics in gaining sale production and business. It is taking away all of the extra things that go into making women beautiful, and recognizing their natural loveliness for what they were born with.

 Assumptions made by Susan Douglas in her essay represent not all women, but those whose weaknesses, vanities, and diffident feelings of themselves she chooses to demonstrate within her critique on the media’s influence over women. Douglas assumes that, as a woman, it is natural and expected she will read magazines, watch “Buns of Steel” work-out videos, and as a result degrade herself to a lower level of self-worth based on what she sees in front of her.