Why is body image such a big deal in our society? In my opinion, in order to produce awareness about the need for positive body image, we need to raise awareness about the sources of negative body image. So, where is it coming from? Basically anything that gives our society unrealistic expectations for men or women generates negative body image in some way.

Some of the things that came to mind are…

-Media (T.V., movies, magazines, websites, etc.)

-Televised advertisements (make-up, hair products, clothing, underwear, etc.)

-Billboard advertisements

-Pornography

-Children’s toys (dolls)

The list goes on and on, but you get the idea. We are constantly being bombarded by expectations that are nearly (if not completely) impossible to achieve. So what do we do about it? Well, if more companies would try to raise awareness like Dove does in this clip, it would make a huge difference! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk  ß Check it out. Totally worth a watch!

An article that was published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence, states that their research found the following: “In Western cultures, girls' self-esteem declines substantially during middle adolescence, with changes in body image proposed as a possible explanation. Body image develops in the context of sociocultural factors, such as unrealistic media images of female beauty. In a study of 136 U.K. girls aged 11–16, experimental exposure to either ultra-thin or average-size magazine models lowered body satisfaction and, consequently, self-esteem”. Obviously our society is having a negative effect on the way that girls (specifically pre-teens through young adults) view themselves. It’s a disturbing trend that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

There is a HUGE need to educate parents about the pressures that are being put on their daughters. Although it may not solve all of the problems, it can at least make the parents aware of the situation, and help them find ways to boost their daughters’ self-esteem. In my opinion, there is also a huge need to educate parents about how to talk to their son about the unrealistic expectations for women. Young men need to know that all different shapes, sizes, and looks can be beautiful. Boys also need to know that they can’t expect girls to look like the swimsuit model staring at them from the billboard as they drive down the freeway.

I think it’s safe to say that every single one of us could use a self-esteem boost when it comes to some part of our looks. However, if we start by boosting the confidence of the young people in our society, who are in the most emotionally vulnerable time of life, I think we can make a big difference.

References:

Clay, D., Vignoles, V., & Dittmar, H. (2005). Body image and self-esteem among adolescent girls: Testing the influence of sociocultural factors. Journal on Research of Adolescents, 15(4), 451-477.