This document summarizes the agenda and topics for a class on body image. The class will include a discussion of the documentary "The Mask You Live In" and an overview of body image, which involves one's perception of their own body and how others perceive them. Key topics that will be discussed include the unrealistic expectations created by media and society, especially for women; the prevalence of dieting, eating disorders, and negative body image among teenagers and young women; and movements promoting body acceptance and challenging societal expectations.
2. Today’s Agenda
Check in
Mask You Live In
Lingering questions from class Monday
Overview of our class
The review session
Note cards
3. Body Image refers to the way we perceive our own bodies and
the way we assume other people perceive us.
“Body image involves our perception, imagination, emotions,
and physical sensations of and about our bodies. It’s not static,
but ever-changing; sensitive to changes in mood, environment,
and physical experience. It is not based on fact. It is
psychological in nature, and much more influenced by self-
esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by
others. It is not inborn, but learned. This learning occurs in the
family and among peers, but these only reinforce what is learned
and expected culturally.”
[Lightstone, 1991]
4. The Facts
One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% (More than half) of American girls are
“unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
Dieting is the most important predictor of new eating disorders. Differences in the
incidence of eating disorders between sexes were largely accounted for by the high
rates of early dieting in the female subjects.
The weight-loss industry brings in at least $55.4 billion in revenue per year
6. What Creates Expectations?
The idea of what makes a woman
desirable.
Self Expectations
Striving for perfection
Women are the most critical of each
other.
7. Eating Disorders
Occur primarily among people in Western Industrialized countries.
Approximately 80% of Americans who seek treatment will not receive adequate
treatment
The key to success of beating a disorder is early intervention
Disordered Eating Behaviors
Anorexia Nervosa
Highest death rate of all psychiatric diagnoses
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-Eating Disorder
8. How Are Expectations Reinforced In
Society?
The Power of Marketing
Objectification
Media exposure has been found to constrain young women’s conceptions of femininity by putting appearance
and physical attractiveness at the center of women’s values.
We internalize messages communicating values subconsciously
The Power of:
Media
Movies
Magazines
Celebrity
Etc.
We form habits
Ex: checking the mirror constantly,
The way we talk about ourselves when we eat/ when we don’t feel 100%
Expecting other to also have negative thoughts about themselves
9. How Do We See Behaviors Manifest?
Examples:
The “thigh gap”
“Skinny Arm”
Can you think of others?
When is image not a thing anymore?
10. Does It Always HAVE To Be This Way?
What’s changing?
How can we start personally combating the expectations?
What’s changing in society?
Dove campaigns
No retouching campaigns
Celebrities admitting to bodies being manipulated
What’s wrong with being fat?
The girl making comments/redefining fat
What can we do to help others?
Focusing on conversations OUTSIDE of looks, shopping, boys, etc.
What makes a person interesting beyond their image, what is that person’s substance
Where to learn more: Jean Killborne
11. Body Acceptance Movement (BAM)
Today [Oct. 14th] is Love Your Body Day!
http://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/
Kent State BAM
https://www.facebook.com/KsuBAM?fref=ts
Notas do Editor
Write down one thing you want to learn or cover in the class that we haven’t yet
Note card for “trashing your insecurities”
Video & group reflection
What is she saying?
Why would I be nervous to go to a pool party… because I am not “beach body ready”
2008 It was reported that treatement for an eating disorder was between $500 to $2000 a day and is typically not covered by insurance.
Disordered Eating Behaviors
Restrictive Dieting
Binging and purgining
Usually a response to emotional stress
May or may not develop into an eating disorder.
Anorexia
Marked by distortion of body image and refusal to maintain a minimally normal weight
Obsession with food, a control mechanism
Appearance is most commonly a marker: emaciated
Bulimia Nervosa
Marked by consuming large amounts of food, then using means of binging (vomiting, laxatives, extreme exercise) to rid themselves of calories they consumed
Socially isolating
Episodes occur, on average, at least twice a week for three months
Binge Eating
An eating disorder that allows one to frequently consume unusually large amount of calories in one sitting without purging
The most common of all eating disorders
What do I think about with my body?
How do we turn our thoughts from what’s wrong with our bodies, to what is RIGHT & what they do for us.
Time line: Has it always been as harsh? No.. But women have always been largely focused on appearance to be found desireable. I just want to be WANTED
Constant exposure: insta, snapchat, Facebook, Pintrest, LinkedIn
we are a very self focused world and whether we realize it our not we are very impacted from the social media
What do you look at on tinder that determines a “hot” man or woman?
“Attraction is important”
Reinforcing the thoughts of what my body does for me, functionally & how it performs, not just what it looks like
Being forgiving to self and realize that we ALL gain and loose weight in various times in life, staying one weight is not typically feesible for a woman.
Practicing healthy body appreciation : reflect on one aspect of your body you HATE, then list all the reasons you are thankful for that body part and what it does for your body.