Thigh Gap Jeans Commercial

Body Image How a person feels about the way they look Not based on fact Learned from your surroundings Changes as you grow up Biological, psychological, and social influences

Reshaping Body Image How are overweight and obese people treated in our society? Take out a piece of paper and pen/pencil…

What are your first impressions? [ 1 ]

[ 2 ]

[ 3 ]

[ 4 ]

[ 5 ]

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people?

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? • Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they?

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? • Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they? • Did you have any impressions about the level of intelligence or success of each person? What were they?

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? • Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they? • Did you have any impressions about the level of intelligence or success of each person? What were they? • Did you write down any words about how attractive or unattractive each person is? What words did you use?

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? • Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they? • Did you have any impressions about the level of intelligence or success of each person? What were they? • Did you write down any words about how attractive or unattractive each person is? What words did you use? • Did you write down any words about the body size or shape of each person? Which ones? What words did you use to describe their bodies?

Discussion • What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? • Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they? • Did you have any impressions about the level of intelligence or success of each person? What were they? • Did you write down any words about how attractive or unattractive each person is? What words did you use? • Did you write down any words about the body size or shape of each person? Which ones? What words did you use to describe their bodies? • Were your “first impressions” of the women different from your feelings about the men? How about the white people as compared to the people of color?

Is there anyone who did not think about the size of these people Is there anyone who did not think about the size of these people? Although each person looks happy, healthy or active, the first impression that many people will have is about their body size

Where do we get our ideas about what body shape and size is attractive and healthy? Word Web & Discussion

Media Television and Movies Magazines Advertisements and Commercials Shows the types of bodies that are “acceptable” and which ones aren’t Magazines Articles that tell you “how to lose weight fast!” or “look years younger!” imply you should look a certain way. Advertisements and Commercials Attracts attention to their products by using thin women and muscular men. Images are edited to show unrealistic bodies

The Reality Body features Props, lighting, angles, computer techniques Shapes and Sizes Altered Unwanted features Edited out Body features from photos of other people Combined to make the “perfect image” Photos can be completely computer generated.

Body Evolution: Before and After

Source: Beautyredefined.net So what’s the problem? “These billions of images of women in media far outnumber the females we could ever see eye to eye, and that reinforces a distorted idea of what we should look like.” “How we think about our bodies and our beauty has everything to do with how we treat ourselves.” Source: Beautyredefined.net

Consequences Unhealthy diet Over-exercising Using drugs (steroids, cocaine, diet pills, cigarettes, etc….) Cosmetic procedure complications (botox…) Eating disorders Depression and other mental health problems Low-self esteem

Ideas in our society about body image are so ingrained that most of us take them for granted and accept them as natural and normal. This might lead us to internalize negative concepts about ourselves and others, such as feeling like a bad person for being overweight or thinking that thin people are the most worthy friends.

Dove Real Beauty Sketches | You’re more beautiful than you think

Ideas about body image, however, are not fixed or universal, and vary depending upon the time and place

Lillian Russell Nicole Kidman then now [ 6 ] Actress and Sex symbol, early 20th century Nicole Kidman Actress and Sex symbol, 21st century [ 6 ]

Babe Ruth Barry Bonds then now [ 7 ] Pro baseball player, early 20th century Barry Bonds Pro baseball player, 21st century [ 7 ]

King Henry VIII President Bush then now [ 9 ] 16th century 21st century [ 9 ]

Miss America contestant then now Miss America contestant 1950s Miss America 2002 [ 8 ]

American dancer New Zeland dancers here there [ 10 ] ballet performing Maori haka [ 10 ]

here there American Wrestlers Japanese Sumo Wrestlers [ 11 ]

Discussion Which images surprised you? Why? How have ideas about body image in our society changed over time? What do you think have caused these changes? Do you think they will shift again in the future? How are ideas about body image different in other parts of the world? How do you think that fixed ideas about body shape and size in U.S. culture influence you? Do you think that bias against people because of their body shape and size is acceptable?

Did you know?... The diet industry makes $40 – 100 billion per year 1 out of 4 college-aged women use unhealthy methods of weight control 80% of women are dissatisfied with the way they look. The average woman is 5’4” and 140 lbs. The average supermodel is 5’11’ and 117 lbs. A woman spends 2.5 years of her life on her hair. A person sees 400 – 600 advertisements per day.

Supermodels are so famous because they are not typical Supermodels are so famous because they are not typical. Their proportions cannot be imitated with natural means.

Did you also know? Weight control measures are being taken by girls as young as 5 or 6. 50 – 70% of normal weight girls think they are overweight. Attractiveness and thinness were associated with goodness in over 100 females characters in 23 Walt Disney films. Main focusses of concern for men are: height, stomachs, chests, muscle mass, and hair loss.

Comfortable: 50 People 1 Question

Think…. How many times a day to you judge, or hear someone judge, their own or someone else’s size or appearance? What effect do these judgements have on us cumulatively over time?

Now… Think of one or two people in your life who you really admire and look up to. Write down the qualities that they possess which make you admire them. Did any of the things that you wrote down have to do with their physical features?

How can we avoid judging others based on physical size or appearance, and emphasize internal over external qualities in others?

CBS WKBT News Anchor's On-Air Response to Viewer Calling Her Fat (Oct CBS WKBT News Anchor's On-Air Response to Viewer Calling Her Fat (Oct. 2nd, 2012)

Reading from gifts….

Mirror Mirror….OFF the wall activity Find a group of 4 or 5 1) Everyone in the group is takes out a paper and a pen or pencil. 2) Each person in the group draws a picture of his/her body on the piece of paper. 3) After drawing the picture, each person makes a list of all the things he/she likes/loves/appreciates about his/her body. 4) After 10-15 minutes of artistry and list-making, each person shows the group his/her picture, and explains his/her lists.

Example list words…. Curly hair, straight hair, strong broad shoulders, freckles, my mom's eyes, big eyes, single-lidded eyes interracial features, tiny hands, little boobs, nice boobs, being tall, being short, being perfectly average height, full lips, naturally pink lips, flexible toes, light skin, dark skin, clear skin, "innie" belly-buttons, strong legs, butt dimples, crooked pointer-fingers, curvy hips