Why are women and girls so obssesed with body image?

Question

As in beauty and weight because more women and girls suffer from eating disorders than guys, and not just eating dissorders other stuff too im not sure of, just wondering because its becoming a social awarness now soo yeah.

Answer 1

Women are not the only ones, guys are getting plastic surgery more than ever, I was at the dermatologist a couple of weeks ago and 3 guys were setting on the plastic surgeon side of the office. I am a runner, look around the next time your out running guys are everywhere.

Mostly its the media and Hollywood, women are hard on other women therefore we all try to be as perfect as we can - not really sure where men's pressure is coming from MOST women have a very loose view of male attractiveness - some like very fit and some like average Joe's all the way up to the big burly guys...

Answer 2

It's the media's fault, always telling us how men want us to look. We are constantly under the influence of the media imagery, which no one can deny is quite inescapable these days. We have characters or image role models like the pusseycat dolls everywhere we go. Its cr@p for women these days - you could be sitting there quite happily watching tv with your bf, then some group of sexy, scantily clad super-babes come on the box and your guy's jaw hits the ground before you can blink an eye! As petty as it sounds, it's can really damage a girl's self esteem.
We feel we're forced to compete, to keep our man's interest.. It shouldn't be this way, and I can imagine loads of guys reading this and shaking their heads, but it's true. With so much imagery gravitating around the stereotypically perfect form of female sexuality and image, its geting harder for women to accept themselves as being worthy of their men.
Its hard not to feel inferior when your boyfriend just can't help but turn his attention from you to check out some "fit bird" in the media.y
If we don't try to look good we're just labelled as being masculine.

Answer 3

cause men walk around with their friends and comment loudly about fat chicks, big boobs, cellulite, big teeth, bad skin, and men know that the poor female in question is hearing every word.
dont you think that a girl would rather be pretty, and receive POSITIVE feedback about her body than NEGATIVE.
its a soul detroying thing.
and the fashion industry portrays the ideal figure as stick thin, full mouthed and blonde. and men puts these pics on their bedroom walls and idealises that is their ideal woman, so no normal shaped woman could ever compare.
and all the wonderfull, intelligent, beautifull women, that doesnt wear a size 8, cant get a decent date, cause they might be a bit chubby.
its disgusting. my friend is 25 like me, and she's only had losers ask her on a date. why? cause she's a bit chubby.
its their loss. if she was a lesbian or bi-sexual, i'd date her anyday.

Answer 4

Because the media portray very slim, not to say skinny, women as being the new beauty standard. And also, because of the media, beauty is seen as THE thing to have to be loved, to suceed in life. It's never been that bad. So girls, usually young ones, but not only, are influenced by that.

Of course, beauty has always been something that women were supposed to have, but the fact that the media talk about it all the time just makes it worse.

Men are not really asked to be THAT handsome (I mean, llok at the men on tv)

Answer 5

Media, Men, Competition with other women, beauty is a powerful thing.

Answer 6

no but, yeah but no but yeah-- the reason we are so consumed with body image is because men are so consumed with our body image. This is a no brainer. I would not give a fig how fat I was if men still found me attractive fat. I would just be happy to be whatever. But not only do men ignore me when I am fat but people treat me as if they think I am stupid and everything is different. I have been both fat and thin in my life and the reason we women care what we look like is because the nicer we look the better we are treated. simple as that. -k-

Answer 7

Because it's shoved in our faces constantly, t.v., magazines, everywhere. If your not 6 ' tall and 95 pounds, in today's society your not acceptable, and that's a very sad thing to have to say. In reality, beauty is in every girl and woman, whether, short or tall, thin or not so thin, light, dark, I could go on and on. Females just need to learn to accept who they are and quit trying to be someone they never will be. It will never happen though, but it would be nice!

Answer 8

Tammi, thank you very much for suggesting that women start taking responsibility for their own thoughts, actions and behavior!! Hooray!

Good to hear that there are a few thinking women out there who see that constantly playing victim gets them nowhere...

The best women I have found are those in science and engineering, who do not obsess about their appearance, but instead focus on making a real contribution to society through their hard work....these are the women I respect, not the models and starlets who think the real value of a person is in how they look....

Body image is a huge trap ladies...instead of studying and improving your minds, which is a lasting asset, you spend thousands of dollars on your boob jobs, make up, etc...what would happen if women spent all those $$$ on college tuition instead??

But its always the fault of the men, right?

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Because generally speaking they are profoundly shallow. When it comes down to it they have to take responsibility for their own thoughts and beliefs.

Even if the media does contribute partially (a long-shot, but we'll allow it for the moment), women still choose to consume that media, exposing themselves to the supposedly damaging images within.

Can you imagine the feminist response if for example a rapist claimed that he raped women because of "the media"? That BS wouldn't fly for a second, and nor should it in this case.