Reasons Why "Body Image" Can Be Harmful

I know I’ve said a lot of things about this issue already and I will probably repeat myself but I’m going to try to get at it in a much less hostile manner and lean towards a more helpful position. The reason I’m choosing to write about this again is because I came across another smear campaign-styled incident, again concerning Victoria’s Secrets models. It was a self-help article detailing the weight-loss mistakes of beginners and the first mistake was “setting unrealistic goals” and the image used with it was of, you named it, Victoria’s Secrets models.

The Issue: Though I agree that creating unrealistic goals is not very effective in encouraging success in something as challenging and time-consuming as weight loss, however, calling the models of Victoria’s Secret “unrealistic” is harsh and actually very discouraging. Allow me to explain why I think this before you decide to come and burn my house down. The problem I see with this is that most of those models are actually very realistic; as in only one or two of the dozens have had surgery and they all (are required to) work out and be in the greatest shape of their lives. And look at them, I don’t assume one VS model that isn’t happy with her life or her career. Or her body, for that matter. Looking and being healthy isn’t unrealistic, it’s what you want to be. But then again, I understand the “unrealistic” aspect if I looked at it with a consensus of the average body type for women in America. But that still doesn’t make it unrealistic. It just means that the average woman (which is “plus-size” in this country) is generally not as fit and healthy as someone who works out extensively for a living. (I’m specifically defending the VS models and any other models that are required to be in good shape for their job. I’m not talking about models that attain their svelte look by just being skinny, which I am sure, there must be.)

I’ve described to you that VS models are exceptionally healthy and realistic, despite the stereotypes of their body size, but now you’re thinking, “Well, jeez, this chick still thinks skinny is the only way to go.” Noooo, please don’t think that. All female body types are lovely, especially when there are curves, and 98% of the time, there are. And although I have to a reason to believe that the fit body type is more attractive (because it’s generally healthier) there’s actually the issue of body image, and this is the source of all our problems.

The Problem: Body image is a learned and taught part of culture, and this makes this quite flawed. We’re conditioned to differentiate between what’s pretty and rare and what’s not, rather than what’s actually good about us as individuals. We’re led to believe that we are not adequate enough in some way, either by the media, our family or the stereotypes that haunt us every now and again.

A quote from Marilyn Monroe, the bombshell with my idea of a perfect body (craziest measurements I have ever seen), knows exactly what I’m saying when it’s society’s fault that we have low self-esteem issues among every generation. If there’s a “pretty,” then there’s an “ugly.” If there’s a “skinny,” there’s a “fat.” This is our biggest problem with the way our society can influence us. For example, Western and Caucasian features are idolized among growing East Asian Societies like Japan and Korea, and to give a very enlightening perspective, the woman considered the one of the most beautiful in Korea right now is an Uzbek woman who is gaining so much popularity as some random guy’s wife that she ended up getting her own TV show, or something. The thing is, she’s never had this kind of attention where she’s from because in her society, she is normal and considered a plain Jane. Sure, she is pretty and she gets to bask in the limelight for having what she was born with, but in Korea that just encourages more girls to go through surgical extremes to in order to please that society and look more like what they’re not.

The Solution? Start with the society closest to you, like the family, your friends, strangers around you. If they ask you or try to discuss with you the kinds of diets or methods to try because they’re unhappy with the way they look, help them reconsider. Ask them if they’re doing it for themselves or for others’ approval of themselves. The question may hurt, but as long you have good intentions, you may end up helping your friend or family members understand that body image is constructed and false. You have the body you have, that’s really the end of it.

What do you think? Is there more to it? Leave a comment, and thanks for reading.