Out-of-Body Image: Women See Themselves Through Eyes of Others

[Mononoke28 135]

I've decided that only men who achieve the physical perfection of Michael Phelps are allowed to judge women's bodies. All other men need to get to the gym.

ugh, I don't find Michael Phelps attractive at all

Ah see... you're just not doing it right All you have to do is look at him from the neck down. Never, ever. I repeat, never, ever look at him from the neck up.

No wonder!

Diana

[Marilyn. 340]

I've decided that only men who achieve the physical perfection of Michael Phelps are allowed to judge women's bodies. All other men need to get to the gym.

ugh, I don't find Michael Phelps attractive at all

Ah see... you're just not doing it right All you have to do is look at him from the neck down. Never, ever. I repeat, never, ever look at him from the neck up.

No wonder!

Diana

sorry that body type just doesn't do it for me *shrugs*

[Mononoke28 135]

ugh, I don't find Michael Phelps attractive at all

Ah see... you're just not doing it right All you have to do is look at him from the neck down. Never, ever. I repeat, never, ever look at him from the neck up.

No wonder!

Diana

sorry that body type just doesn't do it for me *shrugs*

Blasphemy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diana

[Marilyn. 340]

ugh, I don't find Michael Phelps attractive at all

Ah see... you're just not doing it right All you have to do is look at him from the neck down. Never, ever. I repeat, never, ever look at him from the neck up.

No wonder!

Diana

sorry that body type just doesn't do it for me *shrugs*

Blasphemy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diana

what?? not everyone is attracted to the same things I actually think is body is quite funny looking...

[Mononoke28 135]

what?? not everyone is attracted to the same things I actually think is body is quite funny looking...

Well, I'll give you that. His legs are short and his torso and arms are long which to most experts makes it the perfect body type for swimming. His pectorals are nice and firm, his biceps are out of this world, his six pack looks more like a 10 pack, his buttocks... ok I'd better stop.

Diana

[alienlovechild 75]

Where is the controversial statement in the OP? Isn't it kind of obvious that the images seen in the media will affect people's perception of themselves and others? Men aren't immune to it either.

The majority of Americans bombarded by ads with idealized bodies are hitting the gyms and dieting? The ads aren't working too well.

As for the men, if you look up the word "metrosexual' you'll note it only started in 1994. It could be problem in the future but most guys still don't fall into that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual

[Marilyn. 340]

what?? not everyone is attracted to the same things I actually think is body is quite funny looking...

Well, I'll give you that. His legs are short and his torso and arms are long which to most experts makes it the perfect body type for swimming. His pectorals are nice and firm, his biceps are out of this world, his six pack looks more like a 10 pack, his buttocks... ok I'd better stop.

Diana

yeah 6 pack abs aren't my thing ... I do like strong arms and legs though both of which my hubby has.. mmm yum....

[Jenn! 918]

Where is the controversial statement in the OP? Isn't it kind of obvious that the images seen in the media will affect people's perception of themselves and others? Men aren't immune to it either.

The majority of Americans bombarded by ads with idealized bodies are hitting the gyms and dieting? The ads aren't working too well.

As for the men, if you look up the word "metrosexual' you'll note it only started in 1994. It could be problem in the future but most guys still don't fall into that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual

Constantly thinking about how your body appears doesn't necessarily mean you're doing anything about it. I think the whole explanation of "self-objectification" is just another way of saying that some people are insecure about their bodies, in part due to images that are seen in the media. Nothing groundbreaking there.

And don't men have an idea of what they think they *should* look like? Again, it doesn't mean they're doing anything about it.

[Peikko 1,575]

"Constantly thinking about how your body appears doesn't necessarily mean you're doing anything about it. I think the whole explanation of "self-objectification" is just another way of saying that some people are insecure about their bodies, in part due to images that are seen in the media. Nothing groundbreaking there."

I think the 'self-objectivication' takes it one step further, this idea that those affected are almost seeing themselves as if they are in a film but if you are Alien, you can dismiss all psycology as mumbo jumbo liberal studies nonsense. That's a guess but that's my impression.

Oh, and Mr Jabberwocky, I really love the art - those other idiots can keep their porn, it's just grotesque in my opinion.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where is the controversial statement in the OP? Isn't it kind of obvious that the images seen in the media will affect people's perception of themselves and others? Men aren't immune to it either.

The majority of Americans bombarded by ads with idealized bodies are hitting the gyms and dieting? The ads aren't working too well.

As for the men, if you look up the word "metrosexual' you'll note it only started in 1994. It could be problem in the future but most guys still don't fall into that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual

Constantly thinking about how your body appears doesn't necessarily mean you're doing anything about it. I think the whole explanation of "self-objectification" is just another way of saying that some people are insecure about their bodies, in part due to images that are seen in the media. Nothing groundbreaking there.

And don't men have an idea of what they think they *should* look like? Again, it doesn't mean they're doing anything about it.

I agree....and it's not simply a matter of eating right and hitting the gym. I don't think it's necessarily the aesthetics of beauty being displayed that effects people's self-image, but a standardization or defining of beauty by narrow parameters.

Oh, and Mr Jabberwocky, I really love the art - those other idiots can keep their porn, it's just grotesque in my opinion.

That could be whole thread right there - when is porn art? Or can art be pornographic?

[Peikko 1,575]

Well, very subjective as these things are, but yes, I think art can be pornographic but not all nude art is porn.

[alienlovechild 75]

I think the 'self-objectivication' takes it one step further, this idea that those affected are almost seeing themselves as if they are in a film but if you are Alien, you can dismiss all psycology as mumbo jumbo liberal studies nonsense. That's a guess but that's my impression.

I always wonder about posters educational background when I read stuff like this. Not worth pondering because I'll never know or an honest answer might send me into shock. I'll skip making fun of "psycology" (sic) but can't you guys come up with measurable data as a rebuttual?

If you could link say a higher rates of plastic surgery, more use of drugs and alcohol (can't stand your own appearance) or suicide you may be able to show popular images of beauty have a negative effect on self-appearance. Then again you could just fake the funk and argue semantics pretending nothing is knowable setting us back at least 250 years in scientific inquiry.

[Nessa 23]

katherine heigl is hot!

[Marilyn. 340]

that picture is totally airbrushed though...

[Peikko 1,575]

Alien, much as I take some of this stuff semi seriously, I really don't have the time to go around hunting for statistical data. Now, what I think you meant was the lady in the study should have done x,y and z. I don't know that she didn't as I don't know any more about the study than is written in the OP.

What I think is interesting is that some people are open to the idea that there might be a connection between the huge amount of advertising that uses a stylised version of the female form to sell product and a tendancy for a section of women in society to be incapable giving themselves any worth except in terms of their physical attributes.

I can think of several stories recently that would make more sense were it true that this were so.