Women’s Psychology Unit 6

Unit Six: Women’s Bodies Beauty Norms and their Effects on Women ● Standards influenced through media (advertisements, tv shows, movies) ● Women with slim and “proportionate” bodies are displayed ○ Sets the ideology that you must have a slim body to be deemed beautiful ○ Must fit this standard in order to have worth ● Women often sexualized (by men) since industries are very male-dominated ○ Causes women to question their worth/ identity (Example: Marilyn Monroe) Objectification/Self-objectification ● Definition: viewing bodies as objects to be gazed at and enjoyed by others ○ Internal qualities that make a female unique becomes neglected, making appearance a priority ● Male gaze is central in understanding objectification ○ Although males can be objectified, it’s more common within women ○ Men would always “check” the woman out or catcall her ● Objectification Theory: Addresses how living in a culture that objectifies women is harmful to women ○ They runt the objectifying gaze on themselves in order to evaluate the extent to which they conform to societal standards of beauty ● Self- objectification: conforming to beauty standards ● Body Surveillance: women report viewing their bodies from an observer’s perspective and evaluating their physical appearance; checking in on their appearance (through mirrors) ● Body Dissatisfaction: Not feeling comfortable or satisfied with their physical appearance ○ Potential to be a lifelong issue for women ● Normative Discontent: The normal state for girls and women with respect to their bodies is to feel unhappy or dissatisfied ● Body Shame: when judging other’s bodies as undesirable; negative outcome of selfobjectification ● Process: Experiences of Internalization Self- Body objectification of Beauty objectification Surveillance Shame Norms Body Negative Outcomes (decreased performance, depression, disordered eating) Menstruation ● Menstrual cycle is the interaction between female reproductive organs and the endocrine system, which regulates hormone production ● Periods often presented negatively (girls would censor it and refer to it as “leak” or “down there”) ● Menarche: First menstrual period ○ Some girls would learn about it from this period (often would get surprised or scared) ○ Average age to get it is between 12-13 Internalization of Beauty Norms: ● The process of taking on the standards and norms of the dominant society as one’s own and then striving to meet those standards ● Key factor of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating How Race, Body Size, Symmetry, Hair, etc. Affect Views of Whether a Woman is Beautiful ● Colorism: Preference for lighter skin ○ The darker your skin is, the more body shame you’ll receive or the more you are subjected to it ● Current beauty norms of this generation are light skin, straight hair, hairlessness, slim/ thin body, big eyes, cisgender (hetero) ○ Face has to be symmetric ● Asians were reported to have greater dissatisfaction with their facial features ○ Self-conscious about their eyes ● Disabled women were met with dissatisfaction with their bodies as well ● Transgenders were discriminated due to not fulfilling beauty standards The Role that Parents, Peers and Media Influence Women's Views of their Bodies ● Thoughts on one’s body are related to the relationship they have with their parents ○ Parents would tend to encourage their children to lose weight resulting in the desire to become thinner ○ Parents can positively influence their child’s body image as well ● Many teenage girls/ women would compare their bodies to others, often judging themselves as less attractive than those around them ● Expectations displayed everywhere, from social media to everyday objects we use ○ Ex: Barbie dolls ● Digital editing/ photoshop is often used to improve appearances ● Telling females that you are normal if you meet the standards of being thin, symmetric, having light skin, having straight hair, having big eyes; out of those standards you are deemed abnormal or odd or ugly ● Body standards aren’t healthy to conceive either (cause you have to eat less to do so) ● Quick note: Although there should be body acceptance, you shouldn’t encourage fatness. Body acceptance has its limits, healthwise. Don’t follow the beauty standards, but also look after your health. ● Body esteem: the degree to which people view their bodies positively ● Body dissatisfaction: not feeling comfortable with physical appearance ○ Beauty standards can encourage insecurities ○ Reason why many women are seen undergoing plastic surgery