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Body Image
By peace | October 16, 2007
Body image is a person’s inner perception of her own physical being. This image may or may not correspond to objective reality. It is perfectly possible — and quite common, for women within normal weight ranges to perceive themselves as grossly obese; this is a particularly severe problem in women who have anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It is quite possible for women who have unexceptional features to believe that their noses are too big or their lips too thin. Study after study indicates that women tend to be dissatisfied with their looks, rating themselves as too ugly, too plain, too old, too pimply, too fat, too hairy, too tall and so on. By contrast, men in general tend to be much more satisfied with their bodies, even when objective measurements indicate they might not meet certain standards of perfection.
It is often said that women are much more sensitive than men to certain aspects of their physical selves, perhaps because their daily lives are touched by bodily functions such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy and childbirth, not to mention the natural functions of children and other people in their care. Whatever the explanation, it is undeniable that in women, a poor body image can become an obsession so strong that it takes precedence over all other aspects of life. A poor body image is not merely a problem of women who are concerned about their sexual attractiveness but seems to be closely tied to women’s overall sense of self-esteem and well-being.
A chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance can be related to all sorts of health problems in women. Women with a negative body image are prone to develop anorexia, bulimia or obesity, for example. In addition, many women who are unhappy with their physical selves often experience sexual dysfunction, since sexual arousal depends to a large extent on feeling attractive and desirable. Finally, a number of the products and services women purchase to improve or alter their appearance — from shoes to cosmetics to liposuction — can lead to physical problems in their own right.
Topics: All Posts, Health, Woman's Health |
October 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
[…] Many women worry that seeking reconstruction is frivolous or vain. Nothing could be further from the truth. A number of psychological studies have affirmed the relationship of reconstruction to the restoration of a healthy body image and self-esteem. This does not mean that reconstructive is necessary for a woman to feel good about herself. But if reconstruction feels right, this is a normal and healthy inclination, not vanity. […]