Written by Kimia Asgari
Unrealistic beauty standards have always existed. Although standards differ across different countries and cultures, they all create the same expectation for men and women to attain a desirable appearance as set by these “beauty guidelines.” These expectations can overwhelm people and cause them to force their bodies to extreme exercise and dieting to try and achieve the “ideal” body. This can in some cases trigger the development of eating disorders. Unfortunately, the invention and popularization of photoshop and social media in the past couple decades have intensified these expectations. These increasing pressures have also increased the percentages of those with eating disorders in society.
An eating disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by an unrealistic view of one’s appearance. Anorexia, for example, is characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. The consequences of this disorder can be severe, ranging from an abnormally low body weight to death. In fact, this disorder has been measured to have the highest mortality rate of all eating disorders. Fortunately, there are different psychotherapy methods, counselling, and other resources available for individuals dealing with such disorders.
Different studies in this field have identified a positive correlation between body shape dissatisfaction and negative pressures from family, peers, and social media. Young highschool girls, in particular, are the most at-risk demographic for developing eating disorders. This trend can be attributed to the greater pressure on young girls to look desirable and the long standing misogynistic belief that beauty is a woman’s most important feature in society.
Social media platforms make it easier for many pro-anorexia groups to promote body dysmorphia and eating disorders by labelling such issues as lifestyle choices. These groups normalize participation in eating disorder behaviours by making people feel like their behaviour is acceptable, justifiable, and even desirable. Online content combined with the social pressures to have and maintain a specific appearance can lead to the internalization of these unrealistic standards, further encouraging the pursuit of thinness and the development of eating disorders.
However, social media can also be a powerful tool in the fight against the rising pressures of complying with beauty standards. Many online communities support individuals with eating disorders who are trying to get treated by providing emotional support and information about various resources such as helplines, counselling, and group therapy. Social media has allowed for the creation of a platform where those with eating disorders, who rarely seek professional help on their own, find help and guidance for their condition and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Furthermore, the increasing number of influencers and celebrities posting photos of their make-up and photoshop free selves has been helping young people discard the idea of an “ideal” body. Obtaining social approval concerning one’s look and their “attractiveness” influences how that people view themselves. However, when public figures push for a reality that exists outside these influences and expectations, it opens the door for many people to embrace their beauty.
Works Cited
Social and Psychological Factors Related to Risk of Eating Disorders Among High School Girls (2017)
Body dissatisfaction in adolescents with eating disorder (2016) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40519-016-0353-x
Pro-ana versus Pro-recovery: A Content Analytic Comparison of Social Media Users’ Communication about Eating Disorders on Twitter and Tumblr (2017) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01356/full
Sociocultural Appearance Standards and Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Women of Various Age (2018)
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