A few days ago, we saw Khloe Kardashian get flak on social media as she forced her grandmother to take down an “unflattering” photo of her. The photo seemed completely normal to us – it showed us a body that was natural and healthy; we got to see curves, stretch marks, and some natural bulging fat.
When you look at Khloe’s Instagram account and other social media handles, you’ll see a stark difference. In fact, some would argue that you won’t be able to find a single picture that looks like her. What you do see are photos of a person who has been filtered and airbrushed to perfection. You see no signs of freckles, no bad angles, no love handles, no stretch marks, and no sign of humanness.
Is this healthy? Should we be furious at Khloe Kardashian for setting unattainable body goals for others? Or should we feel empathetic towards her as she seems to be struggling with body dysmorphia?
What is body image?
Before we go further, it’s imperative that we discuss what body image is. In simple words, it is the perception that a person has of their appearance. When we delve deeper into this concept, we realize that it’s much more than one’s opinion of their physical appearance – it’s true what one thinks and feels about one body; it can be positive or negative, and sometimes an amalgamation of both. These feelings and thoughts are encouraged by our surroundings and other sociological as well as psychological factors.
How does one become dissatisfied with their body?
How can one develop negative thoughts and feelings about their body? Like, who is the culprit behind such toxic perception that literally alters our reality?
As shocking as it may sound, it is actually our environment that sabotages our feelings and thoughts – it could be our family, friends, and even the media. All of these factors influence our thinking and impact how we feel about ourselves. Have you been bought up in an environment that emphasized physical appearance? Did you ever receive negative feedback from a person who you love and feel strongly for? It is possible that they successfully managed to play a role in causing body dissatisfaction in you!
It’s possible that you were teased about how frizzy your hair was while growing up or the fact that you wore braces, or that you developed acne in your teens. People could’ve pointed out your insecurities in public, causing you to think negatively about something that seemed completely normal to you at first – like, the color of your skin, the stretch marks on your body, the freckles on your face, the dark circles under your eyes or even your height.
These things are honestly out of your control, and so, to be discriminated against on the basis of such beautiful differences and be criticized and degraded for looking the way you look is the worst thing that one can do to you.
What role is social media playing in this?
You must note that it’s not just the aunties that give you backhanded criticism or the boyfriend who makes you feel ugly and unworthy. The media also plays a critical role in causing body dysmorphia – be it conventional media or social media.
In this age of information technology and subsequent social media addiction, we are constantly bombarded with pictures online that are reeking of unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards. We see pictures of models and influencers who’ve been stylized and filtered, and unfortunately, we have grown to accept them as the gold standard – as if these fabricated images tell you the truth!
As much as we love these social media posts, we must keep in mind that we’re digitally manipulated into thinking that that is beauty. In fact, what we must know is that all of these images are the highlights of the lives of these media persons. They’ve been trained by professionals, they’re on strict diets, they are styled by the best designers and makeup artists in the industry, they’re photographed in the most flattering lighting and backdrops by experienced photographers – and some have even gone under the knife, while some have simply been blessed with great genes.
It’s artificially manufactured to such a level that it’s impossible for anyone to look like that in real life.
How serious is the problem, really?
Nearly 50% of girls below the age of 13 are dissatisfied with their bodies. In fact, the number grows up to 80% by the time they turn 17! These numbers are highly alarming because research has revealed that body image is one of the top four concerns faced by young women.
Is it truly worth it? When a household name like Khloe Kardashian can feel so ashamed of her body, how are we going to protect our girls who’ve just hit puberty?
Is it the responsibility of a cheap essay writer to bring this problem to the mainstream, or do you think people with influence and credibility must take on the mantle to dismantle this highly dangerous problem? We’ve got a lot to think about!
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Let’s discuss how castor oil might help to reduce stretch marks and a simple way to use it.
