Effects of Beauty Standards on Body Image – Media-created beauty standards significantly influence how people feel about their bodies. Many specialists have discussed the advantages of such influence; then, there remains a lot of convincing data supporting the opposite position. Young individuals remain persuaded to strive for particular body ideals despite their natural qualities by celebrities and ads. Reduce the negative impacts; it is crucial to be aware of them. The growing influence of media and aesthetic standards on body image is a complicated development that needs particular consideration.
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Introduction: Effects of Beauty Standards on Body Image
Beauty standards have always been highly prevalent throughout human history, and today they drastically affect everyday interaction, the media, and the commercial world. They determine what is “beautiful,” from body shape to facial proportions to height and weight. So many scholars have sought to explain why they exist, yet there seems to be little consensus. From evolution to racism to social media, there are so many influences on our current-day beauty standards. I argue that while the overarching concept of beauty has stemmed from evolution, beauty standards have become highly impressionable and remain now meant for the capitalist system of the US to control its members.
Positive Effects of Beauty Standards
Beauty standards and media figures can positively affect body image case of a cautious boldness toward them. For example, photographs of good-looking iconic figures, bloggers, or random individuals may inspire people to work diligently to recover their appearance. Undoubtedly, the number of runners and those who practice yoga is increasing globally. The reason is the growing recognition of sports, and physical activities popularized on social media.
Furthermore, a robust lifestyle is promoted by advancing usually acknowledged views and using good examples of superstars. Muzaqeer and Ahmad state, “social media is not only rummage-sale for entertainment or social drives but also healthy lifestyle practice” (p. 1). Numerous individuals seek inspiration and support through social networks and join different communities. Besides, Klassen et al. letter that young adults often receive healthy eating and recipe tips on social media, which is highly beneficial.
In addition, celebrities and social media influencers endorse diversity, as they fear receiving disapproving comments from the public. They inspire not aiming for a single beauty ideal but embracing differences. Skin color, facial features, and hair feel no more extended matter. It is evident that beauty standards are becoming broader because of the promotion of diversity, and many people have changed their perception of various issues.
Adverse Effects of Beauty Standards
In practice, the negative impact of beauty standards is currently predominant and demonstrates itself in numerous ways. First, the number of eating disorders has increased since the 1970s due to women’s obsession with diets intended to reach the popular skinny image. People often lack the resources and knowledge to improve their appearance successfully; thus, they seek shortcuts leading to adverse health consequences.
Second, constant exposure to the beautiful faces of celebrities or peers causes low self-esteem. The images of friends posted on the Internet significantly reduce body esteem and provoke negative assessments of one’s body. However, social media users rarely consider that several makeup layers may cover smiling faces in pictures displaying fake emotions.
Third, negative body images caused by social networks or advertisements push people to undergo cosmetic interventions despite possible adverse health impacts. According to Chen et al. (2019), how people perceive cosmetic surgery varies based on photography editing applications and social media use. Sometimes individuals make unreasonable decisions under strong emotions and regret later about them. Having cosmetic surgery is often among those decisions.
Conclusion
One of the most severe factors in establishing and evaluating body image is the influence of media images and beauty standards. One makes certain conclusions about the ideal appearance after perusing celebrity portfolios and the pictures shared by friends and acquaintances on social media. Although this could increase a person’s desire to better themselves, the results are frequently rather unpleasant. Among them include severe eating problems, various insecurities, and a decline in general life pleasure. Therefore, understanding the effects of beauty standards is crucial in generating a reasonable attitude towards one’s body among people and making society healthier and happier in general.
Also Read: How Beauty is Portrayed in the Media
