The Kardashian Catalyst
The transformative influence of the 'Kardashian Era' on the evolution of women's perspectives.
In the ever-evolving landscape of pop culture, few families wield as much influence as the Kardashians. From their reality TV reign to their multi-million dollar beauty empires, the Kardashian-Jenner clan has captivated audiences worldwide. Yet, beyond the glitz and glamour lies a narrative of body transformation that speaks volumes about society's shifting standards of beauty and gender norms.
The Curvy Craze: Embracing Feminine Silhouettes
For years, the Kardashians were synonymous with curves. Kim's hourglass silhouette and Khloe's "revenge body" became iconic symbols of body positivity and empowerment. Their unapologetic celebration of curves challenged conventional beauty standards and encouraged women to embrace their natural shapes.
While this ‘curvy craze’ managed to challenge conventional beauty standards to an extent, criticism was also prominent within the movement. Critiques stated that “It is easy for Kim to embrace her curves since she in fact has curves to embrace, but what about assless, flat-chested women who have little or nothing to embrace, and what about fat women, who, when they embrace their own curves, are actually embracing diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, and dialysis machines?” (Harris, 2016).
It was argued that publicly accepting her curves serves as a subtle yet forceful method of manipulation, subtly pressuring her followers, instilling feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, and imperfection. Despite the criticism, Kim Kardashian defended her stance, stating, “I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world” (Harris, 2016).
In the face of this controversy, Kim’s firm belief in self-acceptance highlights the significance of challenging rigid gender norms and advocating for inclusivity in beauty standards.
Challenging Traditional Notions
The Kardashians' embrace of their curves represented a departure from the traditional Hollywood ideal of thinness. By proudly flaunting their bodies, they challenged the notion that femininity is synonymous with fragility and delicacy, instead championing strength and sensuality. This rebellion resonates deeply in the context of reality television, where shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians often promote a post-feminist perspective that celebrates femininity and girliness as vehicles for female empowerment (Guasiro, 2016). The Kardashian sisters themselves advocate for women's empowerment, embodying the neoliberal notion that women can "have it all" (Guasiro, 2016). Khloe Kardashian, in particular, spoke candidly about her journey towards self-acceptance, stating that despite societal pressures, she always embraced her natural shape. (Staff, 2017). In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, her transformation and newfound confidence were influenced by figures like Kim Kardashian, whose celebrated curves inspired her to love herself unabashedly (Guasiro, 2016). Through their journey, the Kardashians exemplify the power of embracing diverse forms of femininity and challenging traditional gender norms.
Broadening the Beauty Spectrum
In a culture obsessed with thinness, the Kardashian sisters showcased a diverse range of body types within their own family. From Kim's voluptuous curves to Kendall’s petite frame, they demonstrated that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, challenging the homogenised standards perpetuated by the media.
Historically, women have been subjected to unrealistic and often unattainable beauty ideals, dictating that femininity is synonymous with a specific body shape or size. By showcasing their own varied physiques, the Kardashians disrupt this narrative, emphasising that femininity is versatile and cannot be confined to a singular mould.
The 'Skinny Shift'
During the past two years, there has been a concerning transition in societal ideals of body image, with a notable emphasis on achieving a slender physique, largely influenced by the media presence of the Kardashian and Jenner families. Although they may not explicitly endorse such ideals, their pervasive influence is evident through the circulation of videos and images showcasing their own body transformations. The images used are from the Met Gala 2024, where Kim had an unimaginably small waist for her audience to see.
For instance, Kylie Jenner’s publicised journey of postpartum weight loss, motivated by her desire to reclaim her pre-pregnancy figure, inadvertently sets a standard that many perceive as aspirational. Given the widespread admiration for celebrities like Jenner, her actions serve as a catalyst for others to imitate.
The Ozempic Craze
Ozempic, originally prescribed to diabetic patients to stimulate insulin production, has emerged as a sought-after solution for weight loss, particularly in the United States.
Over the period from March 2018 to February 2023, its popularity surged, partly fuelled by media messages linking its use to the Kardashian and Jenner family (Han et al., 2023). In various media platforms, discussions, and endorsements by these influential figures, particularly Kylie Jenner, have validated its usage, contributing to its appeal, especially among young women seeking to imitate the perceived lifestyle choices of their idols.
The Male Gaze and Objectification
The male gaze presents Men in the media and general life as the one who is looking and who has agency over their own narrative and a woman is very passive and mainly there to be looked at.
In this way of thinking a woman is forced to identify with an object and be looked at by the male who gets to identify as a man and look at others (Oliver, 2017). This leads to the pressures women have when it comes to body image and their sexuality.
The media's relentless scrutiny of the Kardashians' bodies exacerbates these pressures. Every fluctuation in weight or appearance becomes fodder for tabloid headlines and social media speculation. The constant surveillance not only reinforces unrealistic beauty standards but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes about femininity and worth.
This raises the question, due to patriarchal hegemony do women feel required to please men through these trends or is it for themselves? An example of the media scrutinising the Kardashians every move while also trying to answer this question themselves is the ‘Timmy effect’ referring to Kylie Jenner’s change in appearance ever since dating famous actor Timothée Chalamet. Many of the Kardashians fans feel as though Kylie has changed her style to be more natural and thin to suit her partner’s wants where Timothée hasn't changed his style or body image.
In an interview with the New York Times, the youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister was asked about the criticism she’s faced due to her softer look.
Kylie admittedly didn’t want to talk about the so-called “Timmy effect.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that,” she told the outlet in March 2024. “I just don’t want to talk about personal things.” (Torregiani, 2024)
This interview followed by Kylie's cagey response has only fuelled the fire of peculation surrounding this topic showing us just how much effect objectification and the male gaze has on celebrities and thier daily lives.
Feminine Worth
The issue of body satisfaction is particularly pronounced among women due to clear gender differences in societal expectation and representations of idealised bodies. Unlike the relatively stable ideal for male physiques across generations, women are subjected to fluctuating standards of beauty, as exemplified by the Kardashian shift from curves to slimmer physiques. This perpetuates broader cultural narratives about femininity and worth, reinforcing the notion that a woman’s value is exclusively tied to her physical appearance. Consequently, women are pressured to constantly strive for an idealised body type, often at the expense of other aspects of their identity and worth, such as education or values. The relentless focus on achieving a thin physique exacerbates body dissatisfaction and contributes to low self-esteem among women who do not conform to this narrow standard, perpetuating a cycle of insecurity and self-criticism.
Research indicates that women are more likely than men to engage in weight loss efforts, leading to potential health consequences (Pingitore et al., 1997). Furthermore, women consistently report higher levels of body and weight dissatisfaction compared to men across all weight categories, underscoring the pervasive impact of society's beauty standards on female self-perception. This raises critical questions about the origins of body dissatisfaction; whether it stems from inherent biological factors or societal influences and messages dictating unrealistic beauty ideals, like the Kardashians. It seems as though this is a deep rooted issue, as research underscores the perception among women that their physical appearance holds greater societal value than their personality or intelligence, with their physical attributes often comprising a significant portion of their identity as women (Hatfield & Sprecher, 1986).
The reinforcement of this ideology by societal norms and media representations exacerbates these deeply ingrained views. If women were to shift their focus towards valuing their intellectual capabilities, emotional intelligence, and contributions to society, it would offer a sturdier foundation for their identity. This highlights the necessity for societal transformations in the expectations placed on women, advocating for the recognition of multifaceted aspects of feminine identity; immunising them to the variations in the media.
Let's Redefine Beauty
As we dissect the Kardashian phenomenon, we must critically examine the beauty standards and expectations that shape our perceptions of femininity. By challenging traditional notions of beauty and embracing diverse body types, the Kardashians have forced us to confront the narrow confines of societal norms and expectations.
The influence of the Kardashian family extends across various age demographics, making women of all ages susceptible to the messages they share. From adolescents admiring Kendall Jenner’s slender physique, to mothers seeking postpartum weight loss inspiration from Kylie, Khloe, and Kim, and even older women finding inspiration in Kris Jenner’s youthful appearance approaching her seventies; the Kardashian’s influence knows no bounds.
Guarisco, M. (2016). Keeping Up with Postfeminism: The Branding of the Kardashian Sisterhood (Doctoral dissertation).
Han, S. H., Safeek, R., Ockerman, K., Trieu, N., Mars, P., Klenke, A., Furnas, H., & Sorice-Virk, S. (2023). Public Interest in the Off-Label Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Agonists (Ozempic) for Cosmetic Weight Loss: A Google Trends Analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjad211
Harris, D. (2016). The Kardashians. Southwest Review, 101(4), 601-613.
Hatfield, E., & Sprecher, S. (1986). Mirror, Mirror: The Importance of Looks in Everyday Life. In Google Books. SUNY Press.
Pingitore, R., Spring, B., & Garfieldt, D. (1997). Gender Differences in Body Satisfaction. Obesity Research, 5(5), 402–409. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1997.tb00662.x
Staff, U. W. (2017, October 15). Kim Kardashian: I never knew “to embrace curves” as a kid. Us Weekly.
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