Hello!
I found this article online basically summarizing self-image and body-image. The theme of the article revolves around your reflections in the mirror and what different genders/types of people perceive. The site explains many cliches often mentioned in body-image topics, but they also included something that I found interesting... Those who are considered attractive don't have as high of self-confidence as many would think. These individuals often don't trust praise of their work or talents, believing positive evaluations to be influenced by their appearance. Additionally, men are more likely to be pleased with what they see in the mirror or indifferent.
I think that this is a good "Starter" article to explain the basics of body and self-image problems and will help to begin our philosophical discussion!
Thanks for the great article!
ReplyDeleteI thought the notes about adolescents were particularly interesting. It suggested that adolescent girls are more likely to dislike their bodies than adolescent boys because puberty brings boys closer to the masculine ideal while puberty takes most girls farther away from the feminine ideal. I'd never thought about that before but it makes a lot of sense.
A perfect "starter".
This part of the segment really struck me:
ReplyDelete"It wasn't until I was a bit older, more mature and a lot more aware of gender constructs that I was able to understand why I was committed to certain ideals. It was only when I became aware of how black men were caged by their own misconceptions of self and the media’s portrayal and depictions of them was I able to recognize where my idea of being a stud came from. That's when I stopped using my checklist."
However, this resonates more closely with my ethnic background. As I've aged, I've come to think more about who I am as half asian and half white. In the past, I started my introductions with disclaimers to show I am a white-washed "asian" girl. There was a checklist of things that are closely associated with being asian (anime, caring about school, only hanging out with asian people) which I almost always pointed out as not a huge part of me. No, I don't actually like or even know much about anime and I don't really hang out with asian people at all. But I do have a subconscious standard I try to hold when it comes to school. I'm learning to embellish myself with things I truly enjoy, rather than highlight who I am not. Thus, rather than hindering my own ability to become someONE with guidelines, I shed this list to build that relationship with myself and who I will be.
AEM, I LOVE your comment but I think you put it on the wrong post!
ReplyDelete