Sociological View of Women and Body Image - 850 Words

The Sociological View of Women and Body Image You have just bought a new pair of jeans. You think that you look absolutely great in them until you turn on the television or compare yourself to the person on side of you. Today, women all over the world are focused on the way society views them, which has an influence on the way they view themselves. The field known as sociology of the body investigates the ways in which our bodies are affected by our social experiences, as well as by the norms and values of the groups to which we belong (Giddens, Duneier, et al, 2007). Body image is an ideal image of what one’s body looks like or what she wants it to look like. It can also be defined as the value one may put on physical appearance. This†¦show more content†¦However, white women are usually dissatisfied with their figure, and they focus on dieting and regular exercise (Baugh, 106). The way a woman perceives her body also has an effect on her sexual behavior. When thinking of the connection between body image and sexuality, it may seem rather simple. If you are positive about the way you look, you’re more likely to be more comfortable having sex and may enjoy it much better (Ackard). On the other hand, if you are not pleased with your body, you may abstain from sexual activity. This isn’t always the case; a person with a positive view may still abstain from sex because of religious beliefs or family values. Therefore, it depends on the individual and may have different effects on different people. However, sexual behavior also has an effect on body image. Over the years, feminists and sex educators have worked with women in order to help them obtain positive sexual experiences (Ackard). They teach women how to sexually satisfy themselves and their partners. The outcome of this was that sexual exploration and sexual behavior can have a positive imp act on body image (Ackard). Just as body image is seen as a personal trouble, it is very well a social problem. Body image is also graded by social factors such as gender, social class, and race (Giddens, Duneier, et al, 2007). Women are more likely to suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia than men because of the way society expects them toShow MoreRelatedThe Medias Impossible Value Of Body Image1332 Words   |  6 Pages As young women go through puberty, they begin to mature both physically and emotionally. Particularly, women begin to gain weight when they undergo puberty. Throughout their adolescence, women are exposed to harsh opinions others have on their bodies and how they should carry themselves. Most importantly, women are exposed to society’s values through the use of media. Women begin to value their body image and force themselves to conform to society’s idea of the â€Å"perfect body†. 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