Body Image

The dynamic perception of one’s own body What is Body Image? The dynamic perception of one’s own body How it looks, feels and moves Dynamic because it changes Can change in relation to mood, physical appearance, and environment Shaped by perception and emotions Does NOT always reflect what is real

Adolescents are acutely aware of their appearance and very sensitive to how they are perceived Self-esteem is very important with regard to general motivation, learning capacity and self- acceptance Developing a positive body image and aiming for a healthy lifestyle will help enhance self- esteem

50-88% of adolescents feel negative about their body shape and size Why is it important? 50-88% of adolescents feel negative about their body shape and size 85% of adolescents worry A LOT about how they look When surveyed “The way I look, is the most important part of my self-worth” ideas, gifts, personalities, thoughts, talents, interests…

Have you ever made cruel comments to others about their appearance? Have you ever been on the receiving end of a cruel comment about your physical size or appearance? Have others let you know, in some way, that you’re not attractive enough? Do you find clothes shopping unpleasant because of fears about how others will judge you? Have you ever skipped an activity to avoid comments about your appearance? Do you think often about dieting because of comments about your weight? Have you considered changing aspects of your appearance to look better to others? Have you ever made cruel comments to others about their appearance? Point out that, unfortunately, most of us would answer yes to at least one of the questions above. Judgments about physical size and appearance are personal and extremely hurtful, yet all too common. Ask students why they think it is that we are so quick to form opinions about others based on their appearance and without getting to know them. Challenge students to articulate how we get our ideas about what others are "supposed" to look like in our society.

How can our perception of body image be distorted?

The Media “Dove Evolution” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U If it has not already come up, point out to students that one way in which we get our ideas about body image and attractiveness is through the media. Movies, magazines, Web sites, television, and even video games often communicate unrealistic ideas about body image, and put pressure on us -- even if we aren’t aware of it -- to look a certain way.

This is not a real picture! Are you all aware of that? It is consrtucted through a series of airbrush and phot

The Media Adolescents watch, on average, 1023 hrs of T.V/year 28hrs/week We are bombarded with images of what we’re supposed to look like and not what we look like…Distorted? Forms of Media: T.V, Advertisements, Billboards, Magazines, Movies, Websites and Video Games

A Distorted Body Image? The avg. female model is 5’10” and 110lbs!! The avg. female person is 5’4” and 144lbs

Tyra Banks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObvDqe4TbUs

We need to understand how the media can distort our perception of body image We need to understand and prevent weight-based discrimination

To look less bony…

Kids as young as 5 and 6 years old already have distorted body images

We’re in a culture where the most important job is to be attractive, especially for women The point I’m trying to make, is that by looking at these images without understanding them, will cause you to lose sight of what you really look like, and that it is very hard to look in the mirror and see yourself with any reality It’s scary to not “weigh” our self-esteem, because it is such a cultural norm. Research has show that these cultural messages, lead to eating disorders. It’s interesting that, just as feminism came along and aloud women to take up more “space”, along came the advertising industry and said “No! Reduce that space.” If you’re trained to believe that your value depends on the way you look, than you will be especially vulnerable to the repeated messages that the media continues to send.

We need to understand how the media can distort our perception of body image We need to understand and prevent weight-based discrimination

Why? Weight-based Discrimination Definition: Discrimination or stereotyping of one’s weight, especially large or thin people Ex. Overweight/obese people are lazy, lack self discipline, less intelligent, lack character Ex. Underweight people are unattractive or anorexic Occurs mostly after our body image has become distorted Comments or actions towards others based on their body image

Discrimination can be: Verbal: insults, ridicule, teasing, stereotypes, derogatory names OR Physical: bullying, aggressive behaviours

Final Message This is our culture, and we have a right to develop and define who we are, in ways that are meaningful to us, not the media or anybody else trying to distort the true image, of who we really are.

TED Talks: Looks aren’t everything, believe me, I’m a model http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_ t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model?language=en#t -187107

Turn Beauty Inside Out 1 Page Reflection Write a reflection about someone beautiful if your life, inside and out. Or Write about someone who has inspired you to change your life in one form or another.