Reading Response Week 7 and 8 #2

Goodman assumes that her readers have some sort of cultural knowledge about how being thin is considered to be more attractive then being large in American culture. Goodman also assumes that her readers are aware of the cultural impact television has had on American women (not to mention men, but that is beside the point). Goodman's use of allusions to American television programs helps to build her argument by making familiar references that American readers would understand. The Alley McBeal reference makes the reader think of Calista Flockhart and her unhealthy low weight. The reference to the character from The Practice invokes an image of a larger women being in a starring position on a television program and having it be OK. These allusions help to give Goodman's ethos a sense that she knows what she is talking about because she can pick out examples of weight issues from American television. The Flockhart image is what Goodman feels we should move away from and the Manheim image is what she feels we should be moving towards as being acceptable in our society in order to show girls that it is OK to be a big women and that being too skinny can be unhealthy. By referring to the television programs she also adds an element of humor to her argument. The allusions to television also help contribute to her argument by relating the thesis of her argument to her readers. Goodman uses these allusions as examples of how women's weight on television affects girl's body image views about what is beautiful. By using relatable examples, she clarifies her stand on the issue.