04 Body Image: Understanding Body Image Dissatisfaction in Men, Women and Children

Abstract

This book investigates men’s and women’s body image, focusing in particular on cultural influences on body image, and on degree of body satisfaction and dissatisfaction in men and women of different ages. Theory and data from psychology, sociology, women’s studies and media studies are integrated to address the question of how men and women experience body shape and weight. It was argued that body dissatisfaction is normative in women in the Western world from eight years of age upwards, and that this has a significant impact on behavior such that most women try to change their shape and weight, and many women avoid activities that would involve exposing their bodies. Body image in men was also investigated. Boys from as young as eight years old also show concern over being the ‘right’ shape, and many adult men’s self-esteem is related to how good they feel about their body shape.