AP52238

Body Positive

With the media and society cramming perfection down our throats, it's often difficult to see ourselves in a positive perspective. People with high //appearance-contingent self-worth // go to great lengths to maintain what they think society considers attractive. It’s easy to let feelings about attractiveness engulf every other aspects of what comprises your self-esteem. Women are particularly vulnerable to high appearance-contingent self-worth due to the way women's bodies and faces are objectified in the media. Depending your self worth on appearance is self defeating, especially when you're basing how you look to photoshopped and professionally styled models. According to a study by Noser and Zeigler-Hill, women who are very conscious of their body’s appearance, including its culturally-defined defects, are most likely to suffer negative effects on their self-esteem due to defining themselves in terms of their appearance. With this in mind, middle aged women are also likely to suffer from self defeating thoughts on their own appearance. Our society glorifies youth, which isn't necessarily a bad thing; let's face it, young people tend show signs health and energy, but middle aged women AND men need not beat themselves up for aging because EVERYONE ages. Secondary aging takes a toll on appearance, but that's exactly why we shouldn't let appearance define us. Youth fades and so does the beauty that comes with youth, but with age, you gain things, besides weight and wrinkles- wisdom and love. Advice to everyone, male, female, young or old: Take a break from the mirror; realize the image of beauty that the media portrays is nearly unattainable; realize you are not solely defined by appearance; try laying off the make up for a few days, and smile.

References:

Published on July 26, 2014 by [|Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D.]  in [|Fulfillment at Any Age] Published on March 20, 2014 by [|Mary E. Pritchard, Ph.D.]  in [|Diet is a 4-Letter Word] Amy Noser and Virgil Zeigler-Hill of Oakland University in Michigan (2014) Only graders edit below this line!

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