Why must society shame women's bodies so badly? :(

[Anna Woman von NRW]

We do like folks on soapboxes.............  - I have been known to get on mine sometimes.............

Human nature seems to mean that we want to be the best self that we can and to make the most of what/who we are. No issue with that. Trouble is this is abused in the culture we live in and it means people are fed images and views that (sub)consciously peddle the notion of inferiority, failure and lack of worth.  This is what is really being sold ,it's powerful and it unrelenting.

[Wessexy Witch]

I have a body.
It's my body.
All of it.
Plenty of it.

 

[peternotbaldyet]

Llife is about wanting. That's why there's an advertising industry, to show you all the new products the manufacturers want you to want. In the middle of it all, they don't just want to sell you a product, they want to sell you a lifestyle. Hence, George Clooney flogs coffee, Charlize Thieron flogs perfume etc. 'Buy the product and you can be like Charlize or George.' Hollywood is fixated on looks, youth and beauty. How many actresses over the age of 30 haven't had plastic surgery? American TV is still a dominant fixture in this country. Even the crime scene corpses in their big, souless, fascistic and mostly dull detective shows are beautiful, but once you can sell cosmetic surgery to the Hollywood elite, you can sell it to the masses and because a famous actress isn't happy with her looks or her breasts, why should anyone else be? But it's a fixation on the unimportant. By some billion to one chance, you breathe, you have consciousness, can think for yourself and are at least semi articulate. Who cares if your hair's going white, or you've got laughter lines and one of your moobs hangs a bit lower than the other? (That's me by the way. I have no clue as to what other posters on here look like and I'm equally sure it simply doesn't matter.)

[Sheena]

I agree with everything you said, peternotbaldyet.  However, it is not the only truth (if we work on the premise that absolute truth does not exist; there are versions).  The very fact that we live in an increasingly consumer-driven society suggests that advertising works: it is going strong and therefore there are many people in society who feel bad about themselves and spend money to try and alleviate those feelings.   The idea that because we "know" about advertising means that we could ignore the way that it makes us feel is probably idealistic.  If it was that simple, the advertising industry would be dead.  Women do seem to be particularly vulnerable to low body esteem, probably because women's worth has been judged against different, lower-status criteria to men historically.  Although men appear to be increasingly vulnerable too...

[peternotbaldyet]

There appears to be a march towards conformity of appearance in a vast number of young women. The hyper glossy Cheryl Cole (as was) appearance. And yet if you read any number of articles by women about their bodies and their appearance, there's an undercurrent that is almost self loathing. Is that taught, or is it just inherent? I understand what you say Sheena about the fact that it does seem to be affecting young males more as well, but again there is a wider and more extensive range of cosmetic products aimed at men than there ever has been and more importantly, those products are now widely accepted and there is no longer the same 'gay' stigma attached to their use. I apologise for the use of that word as a slur. It was the insult of choice aimed at any male who didn't conform to 'accepted' masculine behavioural patterns when I was younger.

[peternotbaldyet]

The point I'm not making very well is that there are whole industries dedicated to telling you you don't look good enough, you don't smell good enough, you're too fat, you're too thin, you're hair's not glossy enough, you're eyelashes aren't long enough...it goes on and on and you will never be good enough because there's always the next botox treatment and there's always the next pentapeptides product and even though the industry only wants to make lots of money, you need all of it otherwise you might end up looking like a slavering jellyfish. It's all designed to tap into your insecurities and empty your bank account.

[ldopas]

The point I'm not making very well is that there are whole industries dedicated to telling you you don't look good enough, you don't smell good enough, you're too fat, you're too thin, you're hair's not glossy enough, you're eyelashes aren't long enough...it goes on and on and you will never be good enough because there's always the next botox treatment and there's always the next pentapeptides product and even though the industry only wants to make lots of money, you need all of it otherwise you might end up looking like a slavering jellyfish. It's all designed to tap into your insecurities and empty your bank account.

You could of course do what most sane people do and just ignore it and get on with life? 

[Master Ray]

Sadly, Idopas, so many people (especially the young) aren't as wise as you...   

[ldopas]

Sadly, Idopas, so many people (especially the young) aren't as wise as you...   

Well thank you mate! But I'm not wise, I just a) don't give a shit and b) have lotsa other things to do in life. I would recommend this approach to everyone! 

[peternotbaldyet]

Idopas, I couldn't agree with you more.

[ruckedout]

I went through a number of years self harming so i have quite a few scars from that episode of my life. Had to call an ambulance and get stitched up on a number of occasions which was not only a waste of resources, but very embarrassing for me too at the time.

I'm over that now but if i were to get my clothes off i would look a little bit of a mess. Took some explaining to girls/women when i was on the dating scene!

The worst occasion was when i nearly went through to the bone cutting my left shoulder with a razor blade. It was bad, i could actually see my shoulder cut in half when i looked in the mirror, i thought, hang on a minute, this is serious, before i pass out i had better get help.

From then on i gave up and sorted my issues out. Have not done it ever since.

There you go.....something you all didn't know about me.



 

[Master Ray]

I went through a number of years self harming so i have quite a few scars from that episode of my life. Had to call an ambulance and get stitched up on a number of occasions which was not only a waste of resources, but very embarrassing for me too at the time.

I'm over that now but if i were to get my clothes off i would look a little bit of a mess. Took some explaining to girls/women when i was on the dating scene!

The worst occasion was when i nearly went through to the bone cutting my left shoulder with a razor blade. It was bad, i could actually see my shoulder cut in half when i looked in the mirror, i thought, hang on a minute, this is serious, before i pass out i had better get help.

From then on i gave up and sorted my issues out. Have not done it ever since.

There you go.....something you all didn't know about me.

Ooof.  Brave of you to share that with us, mate.

[ruckedout]

Years ago i would never have said anything. But i'm over it now, i mean it was 20 years ago.

People go through much worse i guess.

[Shush]

You are not alone Matt. Once I cut my arm so deep a big blob of white fat popped out. But like you, this is now my distant past, 25 years ago or so and will not let myself go there again.

[Amandistan]

WoW! That's awful.  Thanks for sharing. That's very brave of you rucked-out and shush as well.