Unfortunately, many people don’t feel comfortable in their own skin. Some studies estimate that as much as 20% to 40% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies, as are 10% to 30% of men.
For those who are not that fond of their looks, some moments or situations can be particularly uncomfortable. An Ipsos poll found that dissatisfaction regarding people’s bodies was most prevalent when they were looking in the mirror, spending time at the beach in a bathing suit, or shopping for clothes, respectively.
The survey also found that more than a quarter of respondents were dissatisfied with how they looked when trying on old clothes they haven’t worn in a while. Roughly 14% admitted to feeling bad when comparing themselves to images of people they see on social media, to other people at the gym or workout classes (13%), or to TV and movie actors and actresses (11%).
According to the aforementioned Ipsos poll, for Americans, a “perfect” body is one that is athletic, whether it’s a man or a woman. Second on the list, though, is the so-called “dad bod,” showing that not everyone is obsessed with abs and flat stomachs.
However, a “dad bod” is only the second-most-preferred body type for men. As for women, being athletic is followed by being curvy on the list of “perfect” body types.
Unsurprisingly, not having a “perfect” body—which does not really exist—tends to push quite a few people to edit their pictures.
Some people might feel completely fine—happy, even—with their looks. But sometimes, all it takes is a comment or two for them to start feeling self-conscious about certain features. When talking about ways to combat such comments and learn to love yourself as you are, adjunct professor of psychiatry and expert in dealing with body image issues, Dr. Cortney S. Warren, noted that there are many skills people can learn to combat body dissatisfaction and respond to unwanted appearance-related teasing.
Firstly, you can choose to respond to negative appearance-related commentary from others by setting boundaries. “Walk away, clearly state that you hearing negative comments about your appearance isn’t healthy for you, or share that it hurts you,” Warren suggested.
“Combat negative internal self-talk with empowering, positive talk. Remind yourself of what you like about your body and find ways to appreciate your physical self,” Warren added, expanding on ways people can work on accepting their bodies and responding to unwanted comments about their appearance.
“Remind yourself that your physical appearance doesn’t define your value as a person. Build your self-esteem by developing an appreciation for the many aspects of you that make you wonderful—personality, friends, family, work-ethic, kindness, love of art, and so on.”
The expert continued to note that it’s important to be kind to yourself. “Stop any judgmental, self-critical talk. Embrace an attitude of self-love and acceptance,” Warren said.
Lastly, she emphasized the importance of media literacy. “Learn about appearance-related commentary in the media and how it’s intended to get us to buy products. Become a critically thinking consumer of appearance-related messages in the media.”
It’s safe to assume the unattainable beauty standards, which are often amplified by or praised on social media, have a lot to do with the way we feel about ourselves. So, it’s crucial to remember that many of the pictures we see online or on the TV have been edited, and the “perfect” person you see on the screen might not exist in real life.
Nowadays, media literacy is a crucial skill to have for people of all ages. But it might be especially important for young individuals, whose views of the world—and themselves—are still forming. And it comes as no surprise that, with the amount of time they often spend on social media, it tends to significantly influence their views, as well as their feelings.
A report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project, surveying girls aged 10 to 17, found that roughly half of them say that the toxic beauty advice they see on social media causes low self-esteem. Moreover, 56% say that they can’t live up to the beauty standards projected on social media. And to make matters worse, the vast majority of girls—as many as 90%—admit that they follow at least one social media account that makes them feel less beautiful.
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