Fixation On The Perfect Body

Fixation on the Perfect Body

The pressures from society and the outside influence of mass media can create conflict within ourselves when we do not measure up to the images they display. The images that both men and women have to have to live up to - can be overwhelming and simply unobtainable. Every person's body is unique, there are usually no two exactly alike as genetics play such an important part on who we are; and what the future holds for us with body image. Opinions of our body image can be destructive or show great satisfaction. Your opinion can cause a great deal of conflict merely because you feel inadequate to what society is dictating.

The conflict analysis of culture points to ongoing struggle between more or less advantage groups. The privilege groups try to maintain their advantage as the subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs. (Brym and Lie, p. 46) In regards to body image those that have obtained their level of perfection continue on their quest, and the others never give up the fight for trying to achieve it. According to the article Gender Differences in Attitudes about Fat - show that men and women adopt different cognitive strategies to copy with the American image on thinness. (Aruguete, 2006) The study was indicative of how the difference in genders perceived body image. Women reported that they dieted more, skipped more meals, and was overall were more totally dissatisfied with their bodies. The internalization of the negative conflict showed that women were more likely to ruminate during bouts of depression. (Nolen-Hoesksems1987) Images that compare body types can lead to oppression under capitalism - merely because the imagery is visible. (Croft, 2004)

Sexist stereotyping and judgments are in every single facet of our lives. When we apply for a job we are being sized up before we even start conversing. The way we look and the images we are trying to portray are everywhere we go.

Dittman and Howard (2004) made this statement regarding the prevalence of unrealistic media images; According to Jean Kilborne, Media Awareness Magazine, "many women internalize these stereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industry's standards. Women learn to compare themselves to other women, and to compete with them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate." (Gerber, 2006) Facts are that most people turn to the media for information on sex and sexuality, in fact most teens learn their sex education from the media. The majority of people associate sexuality with beauty. These images are being forced on women to conform to their version of what society expects from females. Our society is suffering from an epidemic of body image dissatisfaction - so much so, that it is now considered a norm to be on the pursuit of perfection. It seems as though everyone to some degree is going through this vicious self hatred of not measuring up. An article in Media Awareness

Magazine quotes: In its 1998 study Focus on Youth, the Canadian Council on Social Development reports that while the number of boys who say they "have confidence in themselves" remains relatively

stable through adolescence, the numbers for girls drop steadily from 72 per cent in Grade Six students to only 55 per cent in 10th grade. (Gerber, 2006)

There are studies out showing that children as young as third grade are consumed with dieting. Toddlers in preschool now know that there are certain foods that are not healthy and could have the capacity to make them fat. However, the adolescents is the group that is focused on the most, as this is normally the time of their life when they are made aware of self perception and whether or not they are good enough for their peers. Half of most female teens think they are too fat, and they are in fact dieting. The outside pressures to conform to fitting in are huge and the inner conflict that these people have of not being able to measure up to society's standards can be detrimental in forming their opinions about themselves. Society and Western cultures place appearance on such a top priority, and self worth is enhanced for those that fit that profile.

Most people however do have somewhat of a struggle with this and can alter their view on how they are seen and how they perceive others. The issue runs across the board culture wise, with age, gender, social or economic status, and most of all their background. Constantly having media images of perfection tend to make people make unrealistic goals for what they can achieve. Society has a tendency to label what the established "norms" are for women especially. The ad agencies play on the subconscious mind with their subliminal messages they leave - thinness is in - and beauty sells. Labeling and categorizing others by constantly comparing body images to another is one that is an ongoing problem. Economic viewpoint with the mass media has created a capitalist economy in which relies on the products or clothing we wear so labels can be attached. Everywhere people go consumerism is the underlying tone, and how especially the female form should conform to this. Women have fallen into the symbolic interaction that society can dictate, with the way they shape their bodies and mind.

The mass media has allowed for people to strive for the unobtainable even when they know in their own mind, that it is probably an illusion - just to get the affirmation and the approval from others. The

relationship's they make play a huge part in the forming of their self. Self fulfilling prophecy occurs when others demand that we live up to a certain standard, and end up confirming these perceptions. The perfect body is merely an extension of the Looking Glass Self Concept, which is the process we go through imagining the reaction of others towards us. According to Charles Horton Cooley, we tend to interact with how others gesture and react to us. (Brym & Lie, 69) Female models, can sell everything

from wheels and tires to the basic necessities for life. We see women on film and television becoming younger, taller and