“Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest one of all?” Body image involves our perception, imagination, emotions, and physical sensations about our bodies. It's not based on fact. It's psychological in nature, and more influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by others. It is not inborn, but learned. This learning occurs in families and among peers, but these only reinforce what is learned and expected culturally. In this culture, women are starving themselves, alternating between starving and gorging, obsessing, pounding and wanting to remove what makes us female: our bodies, our curves, our pear-shaped bodies. Societies standards for body shape and various media promote the importance of beauty. The media links beauty to symbols of happiness, love and success for women. Media portrays these images as achievable and real. Until women accept their body image, they will continue to measure themselves against societies “perfect image.” Media representations of body image contribute to social trends of unhealthy lifestyles.
Female children learn to worry about their appearance from an early age. Huge quantities of girls between the ages of three and ten have one or more Barbie dolls. On television children are bombarded with commercials showing tall and thin women promoting dieting products and leading a “dream” life. Being exposed to numerous
“perfect” female images leads girls trying to defeat their imperfections into their adult life. Parental messages about appearance also have large impacts on young girls.
I, for one, am not the tallest or the thinnest girl in the world. Actually I am quiet short. I dealt with some body issues growing up and know how it feels. But at the end of the day, I am happy with myself and the way I look. I can honestly say that “I LOVE MYSELF and MY FLAWS are beautiful.” I hope more young girls and women will have confidence. WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL!!!! No matter what size, color or shape…etc It is time to love ourselves!
When did being thin become the ideal for women? What I find interesting is the fact that back in the day, women who were thick were more attractive. It was a sign of fertility and large hips were a sign that one was better fit to bear children. Somewhere along the line society changed the definition of beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, there are parts of my body which society would find ugly, and I have embrace them. They are apart of me. I think everyone needs to celebrate their flaws. Its what proves were human, sets us apart from everyone else and makes us special.