• LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US

8WomenDream

Dream Big Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONNECT
You Are Here Home » BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE » Photoshop Plasticized: Losing Our Heritage

in BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE

Photoshop Plasticized: Losing Our Heritage

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4
Photoshop is well known as synonymous with lies.

We all know Photoshop is an incredible program and that we shouldn’t believe everything we see.

Professional photographers know this all too well. As women, we constantly compare ourselves to photoshopped models and find our own selves lacking.

But I see a much bigger problem.

Photoshop and plastic surgery have similarities that are disturbing. (Author’s note: This is not an admonishment of surgically modifying your body, that’s a personal decision and I have no personal opinion about what you do with your own body.)

I do care about the implications of changing ourselves to fit an external ideal and how this will affect future generations. Do we want our grandchildren not to recognize themselves in photos from our youth?

We are choosing to erase our heritage so that we fit into what’s physically popular NOW.

  • Turn on any episode of Real Housewives (insert city here) and you’ll see people of many different nationalities who look remarkably similar. Especially Real Housewives of Beverly Hills the second plastic surgery capital of the world.
  • What if men got surgery to look like Greek statues? First, the whole fig leaf thing would be weird and second, women today aren’t attracted to that ideal. Tim Tebow has been called Greek statuesque, but he’s much taller, broader and tanner than his Greek counterparts.
  • Just as photoshop erases lines, thins features, and seeks an external beauty ideal, so does plastic surgery. There are frightening movements in the plastic surgery industry to erase ethnic heritage.
  • Some clinics are even advertising ethnic plastic surgery which aims to improve but maintain your unique nationality, trying to maximize the inevitable (profitable?) gray area.
  • An article on racialicious.com says, “Eyelid surgery is not simply a matter of wannabe white, it’s also about trying to remedy their experiences of racism.”

Is this truly a way to limit bullying? Or is it giving the bully FAR more power than they ever hoped for?

You’d have to live under a rock not to have seen the progression Michael Jackson’s face took over the years. Skin condition aside, he had major work done.

I imagine a deep self-hatred led to trying to match his image to what he felt was socially most attractive and lovable. If he had only been HIMSELF he would have been much more than enough and role model to people everywhere regardless of race.

I take Photoshop VERY seriously and have a strict code of ethics that I follow when retouching clients.

Photoshop is something I take seriously. So I toiled over the idea of taking a photo of myself and trying to use Photoshop to erase my ethnicity to make an example for this blog.

But, honestly, it creeped me out! And I’m PROUD of my heritage, dark eyebrows, curves and all. So a better image is one of me accepting myself and reveling in my unique beauty. That’s Guyanese (Indian), Arab, and Texan in my melting pot.

I’m proud y’all.

Photoshopped but NOT plastic! Iman Woods and Linh Sellers rock their respective nationalities

Iman Woods and Linh Sellers rock their respective nationalities

What do you love about yourself in photos? Share in the comments!

~ Iman

Related Stories:

  • 8WD-post
    Who Else Wants the Secret of Losing Weight?
  • Unesco world travel dreams
    8 Great World Heritage Sites for Your World Travel Dreams
  • 8Womendream_Kirstenbosch2
    Dreamer Shares World Heritage Sites in South Africa
  • travel bucket list laos slow boat luang phabang mekong
    Now You Can Get Travel Bucket List Ideas from World…
Iman Woods
Iman Woods

Iman Woods is an American artist who specializes in pin-up photography. Through a unique and therapeutic process, she’s spent over a decade in perfecting, Iman helps women undo the damage from a negative self-image and unrealistic beauty industry expectations. She helps women embrace their own style of beauty and see themselves in a new light. You can find her on her website, ImanWoods[dot]com.

Note: Articles by Iman may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.

Filed Under: BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE

Some of the posts on 8WD contain affiliate links or links to purchase products or programs from 8WD contributors. This means 8WD or the contributor may make a small commission if you make a purchase. The 8WD affiliate links help offset the cost of hosting this website and the contributor links help support the dreams of the contributor. Please check out the 8WD Legal Page for more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

« 5 Tips For Healthy Living During the Holiday Season
5 Tips for a Successful Photo Shoot for Your Big Dream »

Check it out

  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

Recent Dream Stories

  • 8 Solstice Traditions for Focusing on Your Big Dream this Year
  • Winter Solstice: What Will You Do With 1 Minute More?
  • Why Halloween Costumes Can Help Discover Your Big Dream
  • How the Equinox Can be a Catalyst for Change
  • 5 Strategies to Live Your Wildest Dreams
  • Starting Over as a Single Mom Wasn’t My Big Dream
  • Warning: Big Dream to Be a Motivational Speaker Won’t Always Obey Your Plans
  • Dance to Relieve Stress to Focus on Your Big Dream

Inspiration

More About 8WD

WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE POWER TO ACHIEVE BIG DREAMS.
 
IT IS OUR SINCEREST WISH THROUGH THE SHARING OF PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A BIG DREAM THAT WE WILL INSPIRE YOU GO AFTER A BIG DREAM TOO.
 
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 8WOMENDREAM, HERE.

8 WOMEN DREAM | COPYRIGHT All RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025 · LEGAL

Welcome to 8WomenDream Where Big Dreams Are Shared
The 8WomenDream website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're OK with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT REJECT READ MORE
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT