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Kim Kardashian Sociology

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With Instagram followers ranging in the millions, frequent mentions in celebrity gossip columns, countless magazine covers, and most notably, an exceedingly popular reality television show, this ostentatious family known as the Kardashians certainly does not “keep up” their fame by flying under the radar. How did their empire begin? The release of Kim Kardashian’s sex tape with singer Ray J stimulated the debut of Keeping Up with the Kardashians in October of 2007. Truthfully, the making of the main stars Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe began long before the scandal. As children, they had a privileged upbringing filled with over-the-top cars, birthday parties, and vacations, while mom, Kris Jenner, made sure to prioritize their beauty and outward …show more content…

In fact, 1.1 million women of those ages watched the season six finale, which is an E! Channel record for this demographic (McClain 5). In Season 2, Episode 9, Kim Kardashian, along with sisters Kourtney and Khloe, head to the American Laser Center to get cellulite removal for her upcoming calendar shoot to surprise her boyfriend, Reggie Bush, on Valentine’s Day. This highlights her insecurities about her body and gives those watching the notion that they will feel better by changing themselves in order to fit impossible body standards set forth by society. Instead of females empowering one another by encouraging each other to embrace her flaws, Kourtney and Khloe only contribute to Kim’s doubts about her worth by their disgusted tone and harsh critique of her body. Khloe and Kourtney exclaim, “Look at that she needs to do it there!” and “Ew, Kim your thigh is so meaty.” In the shoot itself, Kim gets excessively dolled up and poses suggestively in various forms of “barely-there” lingerie, sometimes without a top, including her provocatively licking icing off a birthday cake (“Kim’s Calendar for Reggie”). The objectification of Kim and the seductive nature of the shoot is degrading to Kim, and additionally promotes the idea that women are merely sexual toys for men’s enjoyment and physical …show more content…

The portrayal of women is very negative, particularly with their use of sexual appeal to achieve success, thereby teaching very corruptive lessons to their viewers. These include the belief that a woman’s life should revolve around a man, not working hard will make you more appealing to others, and looking and feeling your best can only be achieved with help from cosmetics. Too much priority is placed on things of little to no substantial value, such as achieving the perfect body or reaching the highest Instagram followers. Robin Roberts of Good Morning America declared, “you cannot escape the Kardashian phenomenon” (qtd. in McClain 1). Yet, she forgets a world full of empowered women has the ability to break through the barriers that hold them back. Celebrities such as Emma Watson who constantly use their fame to promote women’s rights are helping to inspire women through powerful messages on equality: “I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts … that I should make decisions about my own body … that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that will affect my life … that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men” (qtd. in Lemon). It is time for society to stop viewing women based off what is promoted through reality television shows, namely Keeping Up with the Kardashians,

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