“It’s Botox for you, Dear Bridesmaids,” By Abby Ellin
Even though this is a trend piece on something that seems relatively unimportant, there are deeper messages in this piece than what appears at surface level. Women are so pressured to look pretty that they are more concerned with plastic surgery and botox then having a good time with their friends. I really enjoyed this article. It was entertaining and had a bit of a shock factor.
This piece was extremely well-researched. It was the perfect length; just long enough to show multiple perspectives and make a point but not too long that it bored me. The quotes were probably my favorite part of this piece. They summed up the message in a subtle way and also showed a lot of personality and character. I also thought the writer’s style was interesting and kept my attention the whole way through. She used a nice variety of sentences and showed examples of multiple different women to prove her point. She also included credible sources and experts to back up her claims. The conclusion worked well because it showed how women peer pressure each other to conform to this lifestyle. The lead worked great also, showing that botox is high on the to do list of brides.
It was interesting that the writer compared how women used to buy their bridesmaids a keepsake and hang out, but now that’s not enough. They want to permanently alter their appearance. And the brides are even willing to sacrifice other things at their wedding such as dinner, just so she can look like a Barbie. This trend shows how women’s priorities have changed over time. It is no longer enough to just get lunch together, women are more concerned with making themselves look better.
Personally I’d prefer a massage or facial, but their results aren’t so outwardly apparent….At first I was afraid you had chosen another column piece, but this is a true feature. She has a strong voice, which is fine, but she gathers info from lots of sources so yes, it ends up being both entertaining and well-researched. Good.