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Representations of women' s bodies in advertisements and the underlying White nationalist discourse they reflect is this study' s point of entry. Ostensibly, this is an examination of billboards in Central America, but it is also an exegesis of Whiteness and Context in source publication. Their unsmiling and slightly contemptuous manner is the same as those found on the faces of high-fashion models. The aim of this haughty visage is to educe status anxiety Messaris, The message transmitted is that the world they represent is superior to the one inhabited by the viewing subject.
However, presuming an audience composed of predominately heterosexual female viewers, what is the rationale for adopting semi-nude representations of women to sell towels to flesh and blood women? This transgendered vision impels women to conform to patriarchal definitions of womanhood.
Much of the work of advertising is educating consumers in what they should desire. With this transgendered vision in mind what exactly are these images of women teaching Guatemalan and Costa Rican women about being women? These images are similar yet different; different bodies similarly posed. The Costa Rican compared to the Guatemalan image appears bronze in skin tone as opposed to brown, has thinner lips, appears to be larger and taller length of neck and head above the billboard frame , and on her upper right-hand forearm appears an understated gold band, which greatly contrasts with the exotic bracelets the Guatemalan model wears on both wrists.
