I can see and understand both sides of this biopolitics debate. I feel that everyone should be in control of their own bodies and be able to do what like with them. I do not agree though that it should necessarily interfere or concern the lives of others. I think that we, as a society, are starting to get into this whirlwind of perfection. We are trying to change are bodies and minds to get to this idea of what we see as being "perfect". People are not only changing their own bodies with breast enhancements, liposuction, leg extensions, etc., but they are also beginning to alter what their kids are going to be like. I hate the topic of designer babies and think that it is something that should never be done. Imperfections add variety and if everyone changed all the little things that they did not like about themselves, then we could be living in a world of clones. Everyone would be rich, successful, skinny, tall, blue-eyed, or whatever else people find to be attractive. The world can be a mean and ugly place, and all anyone ever wants to do is fit in, so they change who they are to fit into society's standard and feel like they belong.
This topic of biopolitics raises a huge ethical debate as well. Should people be able to go so far as to not only change themselves, but their children as well. In "Emily's Scars", Arthur Frank discusses how parents are altering their kid's bodies. I think this is horrible, because it is already bad enough to plan out every aspect of a child before he or she is born, but it is even worse to change a kid once they are already born to fit better into society. I don't really understand how it could be thought of to be ethical to lengthen a child's limbs so that they will not be made fun of or embarrassed by the rest of society. People should not have to feel the need to alter themselves or others to fit into the mold that society forces upon them.
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I totally agree with your post, it seems today people are going a little over board with the procedures they are having done to their bodies. Many people going in for multiple different cosmetic surgeries after they like the first. It's scary to imagine what the future holds with the rising interest in perfection. It is weird that people are planning out their children's life before they are born, it makes them not as individual as they could be, and changes them completely before they even knew who they were. Where can the line be drawn? when is enough, enough? Hopefully this bar is set before we turn into a society of look a likes.
ReplyDeleteTHERE'S the sticky point I'm trying to avoid! I have no qualms about allowing individuals to express themselves the way they feel the need to do so, while accepting the (possibly negative) reaction society will give them. But when we bring parental choice into the equation, who knows? Most of the time, we would agree the parents are the best decision-makers for their child's well being...but then again, we've all seen some of the 'deadbeat' parents out there and shudder at the thought of another life being in their hands. If not the deadbeat parent, whose responsibility is this , and to whom will we bestow the ultimate authority on children?
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