After reading Markula's article for class, and reading several of my classmates posts, I would like to post something a little more opinionated. Although I do agree with Markula in his assessment of popular media and advertising portraying the "ideal" body as skinny, often thinner than most of us are capable of being, I also want to point out the value of leading an active, "fit" lifestyle. America is reported to be among the most obese countries in the world, and I don't particularly think that is a stigma any country wants to carry. I don't think people should strive to be like the models (female and male) that they see in magazines and TV ads, but I do think that the idea of a "perfect body" could be tweaked for the benefit of overall health in our country. Using more realistically "fit" models could begin to remedy the negative psychological impacts of the unrealistic "skinny" models and start to implement more positive body image "goals." Using models with a more attainable, realistic look could influence people more to eat healthier, exercise more, and get healthy the right way rather take drastic measure to achieve drastic results. Hopefully, this would create a healthier America rather than the society that has grown accustomed to taking diet pills and starting starvation diets in order to look like Abercrombie models.
I understand that everyone comes in all shapes and sizes, and that applies to myself as well. My point in my post is that regardless of the shape and size that you come in, you should still be concerned with your health and your fitness. Getting in shape, losing a couple extra pounds, and just going on a run or having a good workout all can have a good impact on a person physically and psychologically. Worrying about how skinny the Victoria's Secret model on page 4 is compared to you doesn't make you feel good about yourself, and doesn't get you any closer (not that you should want to) to looking like her. We need to tend to our own health, not simply "get skinny" by any means necessary.
Your stance on the topic is very interesting. I agree that health should be the primary focus rather than fitting the "perfect body" that has been constructed by the media, but I think it is much more of a complex issue as well. Markula discusses the idea of Body Image Distortion (BID) and the connotations of BID as a pre-condition for more serious self-image disorders (Markula 2001). Body image and self-image are more so psychological issues than physical issues, and exercise can only have a positive psychological impact to a certain extent, especially when we are continually bombarded with these images of "the perfect body" despite campaigns to build self-esteem. I have a friend who is extremely physically fit, loves to exercise and eat healthy, and fits into the media's "perfect body" category, yet she still has poor body image.
ReplyDeleteMarkula also talks about the fact that these discourses of BID as an illness equally hurt body image because they lead women to "leave their societal oppression unchallenged" (Markula, 2001, p. 176). So while I agree with you that we should focus more on health and fitness, I think it is an even more complex issue. I think we have already started to move this direction, especially with youth due to Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign, but in a society so entrenched in the idea of instant gratification, I think we will always find those people who just want a shortcut to get the results.
I thought you had a very interesting take on the article and I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing!
-Rebecca
I actually have to agree with what you say, especially coming from a Health and Fitness background. I don't believe that we should continually only have stick-thin models that are unrealistic and lowers self-esteem, however the fact that we are the most obese country in the world is frequently overlooked. I don't believe that people have to look like models that are extremely skinny, but it seems as if, sometimes, society takes that as not having to be healthy, and there is a huge difference between the two. Being healthy is important, and it shouldn't have to be overlooked as it seems to be. However, I also agree with what Rebecca says. Body image is a much more serious condition than just physical parameters may show, as it affects the individuals gravely from a psychological stand point. Markula (2001) states "The cure for anorexia is typi- cally based on cognitive therapy that focuses on the individual and ignores the social context wherein women are exposed to eating disorders." (p.174) and then goes on to discuss cognitive treatments that individuals can have to overcome these battles. Losing weight, overcoming body image distortion, or moving on from an eating disorder are all serious things, that take time to heal. I also agree that Rebecca nails it on the head when she says "...in a society so entrenched in the idea of instant gratification, I think we will always find those people who just want a shortcut to get the results." In a world with the technology we have and having instant results, or communication, we're not always patient, and that's hard for people to cope with. As a society, I do think we need to focus on becoming healthier, but we also need to accept that it affects us cognitively, and it will take time to heal. Markula (2001) states again "...power is inscribed on the body by normalizing specific body practices." (p.174) which goes to show that the longer you continue these behaviors, the more powerful they will become in your life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!