Ideal Body Image Essay

The perception of the “ideal” women’s body image has changed over the centuries, making young men and especially young females more vulnerable to lower levels of self esteem, poor mental health, resulting in increased chances of depression. Media influences play an important role in the personality development, peer pressure, and the development of a sense of identity as children make this transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The issue resulting in lowered self-esteem due to an unsatisfied body image commenced several generations ago, and continues to arise increasing pressure on young females especially, to obtain the “ideal” body.
Over the years, the “perfect” body has evolved from the “Plump” to the “Waif”, due to media and society’s perception on the what an “ideal” body has to be. Through the years up until the 20th century, strong and healthy body images were treated as the “ideal” body. Though, throughout the 20th century the image of the “perfect” body kept changing. From, The Gibson girl who was tall, had a large bust, wide hips and a narrow waist, to the Flapper who had bobbed hair and often showed their …show more content…
Along with the evolution in social media repeatedly exposing images of the “perfect” body to young males and females resulting in anxiety and depression to the individuals. Adolescence is a period where self-consciousness and the need for peer-validation are extreme, and the internet and social media act as a “peer” providing access to satisfy both the individual’s concerns. Though internet may be positive in terms of providing access to the individual’s concerns, it is in reality providing negative feedback. The internet exposes a mass amount of movies, music, magazines, advertising containing unrealistic, and stereotypical body images resulting in anxiety, unhealthy dieting, disordered eating, and