In the Eyes of the Beholder

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Recommended: Effects of beauty standards on society

Influences of how women should look are everywhere and that can begin to take a toll on them mentally and physically. Struggling with the ideas of beauty the world puts into a woman’s mind greatly affects her body image. Whether it is the magazine with the ultra-thin model, the friend who is always obsessing over her weight, or the mother telling her child that he or she needs to lose weight; influences on body image are everywhere. The definition of beauty society has today is one of being skinny with the perfect hair, skin, breasts, and cheekbones. The definition of beauty has changed as technology has progressed and time has moved on. In the time of Marilyn Monroe, she was the epitome of beauty, but by today’s standards, she is considered plus size and not up to par. Influences from places such as the media, peers, and family on body image can lead to numerous psychological, emotional, and physical problems. Body image is not just what one looks like on the outside, but how one feels on the inside. In medicine and psychology, body image is how someone perceives his or her body and his or her emotional attitudes towards his or her body as well (Nordqvist 1). On a more personal level, body image is how someone pictures themselves, how someone thinks others perceive him or her, and how someone feels about and feels in his or her own body. Every single person has a body image, but everyone also has a different approach on how he or she feels about his or her body. Whether it is loving everything, loving only some parts, or completely disliking everything about his or her body, every person has a perception on how he or she feels about it. There is more to a body image than just the outer perception, and negative influences can ... ... middle of paper ... ... Education and Research. n.d. Web. 9 April 2014. Girtz, Brad. “Bullying Can Make Teens Susceptible to Eating Disorders.” Technorati. Technorati, Inc. 2 January 2013. Web. 10 April 2014. “Health Consequences of Eating Disorders.” NEDA. National Eating Disorders Association. n.d. Web. 10 April 2014. Maine, Margo Ph.D. Body Wars: Making Peace with Women’s Bodies. Carlsbad: Gürze Books, 2000. Print. Lifespan. “Negative Body Image Related to Depression, Anxiety and Suicidality.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily. 6 June 2006. Web. 28 March 2014. Norqvist, Christian. “What is Body Image?” MNT. Medical News Today. 20 August 2012. Web. 30 March 2014. Singhal, Anupriya. “Moms May Influence Children’s Body Image.” The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson, Inc. 2014: Web. 26 March 2014. Willett, Edward. Negative Body Image. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007. Web.

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