Our Ugly Truths: UnfIltered

Body image has unknowingly and knowingly been a part of all of our lives. This investigation documents some of the truths about body image and how it impacts different people. Though it would be nearly impossible to eliminate the stereotype of the perfect American body, understanding leads to awareness.

To find out more about how body image impacts people from all walks of life I decided to ask various people in the G.W. Carver HSES community about their views on body image.

Body image is...

“how someone perceives themselves in other people’s eyes”

Describe what you think the media's ideal body for women/men would be.

“hourglass figure”

“Women: slim with a kinda big butt and chest and a small waist. Men: just tall.”

“muscular”

“big boobs and butt, symmetrical face, light skin”

Describe your idea perfect body of women? Men?

“average, they can be skinny or normal”

“There is no perfect male or female.”

“Nobody’s perfect.”

What is your biggest physical insecurity? Have you always felt insecure about this?

“being skinny starting at 14...I’m unable to change it”

“I was never comfortable with my body or how I looked...during basketball when you’re wearing a tank top and shorts”

“my knees and my armpits...starting in the 5th grade”

“my hips, the fact that I don’t have any”

If you could modify your body (ie lose weight, gain muscle, change the size/shape of specific body parts), would you? Or would you support a loved one in their decision to change their body via plastic surgery?

“in the past I tried to be larger”

“if they were trying to look like something else, I’d try to figure out why they thought it was important”

“I would get liposuction”

“Do braces count?”

How do you feel that the preferred American body image has changed over your lifespan? If any.

“it’s becoming more realistic”

“only because of trends”

What would you say to your child if they were struggling with issues about insecurities about their body?

“You were made this way for a reason. Everybody is beautiful in their own way.”

“It is ok don’t believe what others say. But they can change if they want.”

“It doesn’t matter what other people think.”

“I will encourage them to be happy with who they are and what they look like.”

“You shouldn’t change anything about yourself to fit someone else’s standards.”

“People will love you for being you.”

From canvassing different people at E&S I’ve learned that we all have fought/are fighting issues with body image. Everybody has dealt with, is dealing with, or will deal with their own insecurities. In addition, there are also a lot of things that for most people as an outsider looking in you wouldn’t even recognize or care about that people find themselves being self conscious about due to societal pressures. Hopefully, future investigations will be able to dig deeper into the root of why people are so critical of themselves and others. As you read this investigation, what new insight did you take away about body image? Hopefully, this investigation leads to people to being less judgmental and more open towards people and their differences because you never know the battle somebody is fighting, regardless of what you may think you know about that person.