The Effects of Body Image in Different Cultures Essay

The Effects of Body Image in Different Cultures In every society, people use their appearance as a way to express their social relationships. Applying makeup, adding or removing clothing, building muscles, or piercing various parts of the body are examples of how people try to change their appearance in order to fit in, or in some cases, to stick out. In suburban America, girls struggle to reach the goal of a Barbie-doll figure, whereas in Jamaica, it is more desirable, and socially accepted, to be fat. American women use makeup to express feelings and moods while Bedouin women use tattoos as a means to reveal their personalities. Contemporary Western culture sees the body as an object that is separate from the self, while many†¦show more content†¦Fatness is associated with moistness, fertility, and kindness, as well as with happiness, vitality, and bodily health in general. Fatness connotes fullness and juicy ripeness, like that of a ripe fruit well sweet and soon to burst (Sault, p. 137). Diet foods and beverages are only seen in bigger towns and assumed to be meant for diabetics because no one should wish to be thin; quite a drastic difference in attitudes from that of the American ideal. In a study done with 42 college students in Iran and 53 college students in the U.S., the Iranians scored reliably higher on a Body Self Esteem Scale (Akiba, p. 539). Those with little or no access to westernized media perceived themselves on a more positive level and were less likely to have eating disorders as well. Whether it is the media to blame, or the culture as a whole, is definitely a question not easily answered. In America, television programs present slender women as the dominant image of popularity, success, and happiness. One in every eleven commercials includes a direct message about beauty, which are almost exclusively directed toward women (Parker, et.al., p. 108). Common magazine covers will read how to lose weight, how to look skinnier, giving females the notion that losing weight should be a constant goal. Our society encourages engagement in directed effort to improve the body in an attempt to achieve perfection. Because perfection is the ultimate goal, improving ones body noShow MoreRelatedThe Negative Impact Of Social Media And Body Image1452 Words   |  6 Pageswell as their body image. The ideal body image that is seen by today’s society is tall, thin, muscular, and fit. It is constantly advertised in various forms of media including, such as televisions, magazines, internet, and smartphone devices, which make others feel insecure about appearance and health. 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