It’s not a surprise to most people that health studies point to
popular culture as a perpetrator of the body image that has
corresponded to the self-image and well-being of women AND men.
What may surprise you is that this is not a new phenomenon.
Is the rail-thin look of runway and magazine models a new
obsession that has started girls and young women on a path
towards hunger, malnutrition and disorders such as anorexia
and bulimia?
Not really.
The western world created a popular culture of ‘you can never be
to lose weight as early as the 1920s, when flapper styles made women
starve and overexercise their bodies to achieve flat chests,
androgynous look that was popular at the time.
The fuller figure reappeared during the depression, but
quickly reversed in the ’60s with thinness equated with
Physical beauty.
Self-image studies indicate that women tend to consider
themselves than they really are. This distorted body
image is linked to unhealthy dietary practices such as anorexia and
bulimia.
Although distorted body image affects men and women of all ages
ranks, it is middle and upper class women who are most commonly
affected by thinking that they are too heavy and need to lose weight.
Nine-year-old girls follow the paths marked by
mothers, sisters and others.
On the other hand, men with body image issues often feel that
they are too skinny and the use of steroids by young people trying to build muscle
mass shows that they are also negatively affected by the media
body representations.
The bad image of oneself is learned. This can be clearly illustrated with a
WHO study with Canadian students. The study showed
that children’s confidence was drastically reduced through the
preteen years. The percentage of 11-year-old boys and girls who
felt confident all the time was 47% and 35% respectively. By
15 years the percentage dropped to 30% for boys and a disappointing
14% for girls.
What are we teaching our children?
In a Health Canada citation based on a research program for
VITALITY the following report was made: “Thinness in the West
cultures is associated not only with success and sophistication,
but with virtues of character. On the contrary, obesity is the opposite.
of all these things and, particularly in the case of women, it is
associated with failure and breakdown of self-discipline.
Self-image is linked to several factors, only one of which is the body.
image. Self-image is part of self-awareness and begins early in life.
childhood, even before speech. As we become adults, many tie their
self-image to factors such as success at work, relationships, and
skills. Body Image: If a person has a negative view of
themselves physically – can be one of the most dramatic
influences.
The Health Canada findings show that although self-image can be
subject to change throughout our lives, our “fundamental sense of
feeling worthy or unworthy (self-esteem) remains relatively
stable”. This means that it is when the children are still young
that the biggest impact is made on your own future image. creating
a safe, nurturing and loving environment can be the best
protection against negative body image and low self-esteem.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes.
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
illness. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any
health care program.