Friday, February 22, 2008

Can pretty girls pass IQ tests??

Ok. So what we mainly discussed yesterday was the subjectiveness of the IQ test and how it relates to being "mentally handicapped", and also how culture affects beauty. First off, I was pretty surprised to find out that the IQ test has been made to be more difficult over the years. What gives? Is the human race becoming so evolved that we need new, higher standards? Is this a way of the "elite" trying to maintain their status as "geniuses"? These are some of the questions I pondered. And I also agreed with Jones that this test would be harmful to children, given that they don't score high enough. This test would, in a way, label them, whether they want it to or not. If a kid doesn't pass the test, many of his/her peers would definitely see them in a different way. This raises another question; should IQ tests be given in primary schools?

Moving on. One thing I wasn't surprised about was that mainly all the Miss Americas were "bell- curved". Being that these women are supposed to be the "model women for our society", are they setting the standard like the IQ test? Isn't beauty subjective as well? I mean, after all, we all have different taste in what beauty really is. Some guys like blond girls. Some girls like guys that look 12(Jonas Brothers). Anyways. Point being, does society determine what we think is attractive, or are we able to think for ourselves? Think about it. Many of the things we find attractive come from the media to begin with. Is our perception of beauty the result of hegemony?

6 comments:

christo said...

yeah not to mention that there are many types of intelligences and iq tests only test a few... also many researchers believe that emotional intelligence (eq) has more to do with success than iq..

Chris K. said...

I agree with you about IQ tests having the potential to be very harmful. In my school, we were all tested in kindergarten. Looking back, that doesn't make any damn sense. I couldn't even write, so how could a written test determine my intelligence for life?

I honestly think the biggest obstacle to our progress as a species right now is how down right broken the school system is.

Brian M said...

I had trouble coloring inside of the lines in kindergarten. How could I have possibly done well on an IQ test?

It seems as if this and other tests like this are merely ways to assign a sense of social worth to individuals.

kdl63 said...

I don't really think that Miss America women are setting the standard for the women of our society. They are one type which is at the top ladder, but realistically, men and women know that this is an unrealistic standard. That is why such a small percent of the population competes in these events.

Crista Beck - Dating Coach and Matchmaker said...

I agree with what we consider attractive comes from the media. But I also think that the media mirrors what the people are believing about beauty.

Crista Beck - Dating Coach and Matchmaker said...

I agree with what we consider attractive comes from the media. But I also think that the media mirrors what the people are believing about beauty.