Social Ideals

Hi guys!

So I successfully made it through exams. Yay!!! However, what's weird is that 1/8 of my college career is now over; that's kind of a scary thought for me.

Anyways, as I was studying for biology, I came across a thought that was popular during Aristotle's time called typological thinking. Basically, typological thought says that each species has an ideal and all species are striving for that ideal. This thought gained strength through statues and paintings like Michelangelo's "David" and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus." (or if you are da Vinci, the "Mona Lisa") Now lets fast forward into present day. When I first heard about this in class, I simply took it as a random fact I had to learn to do well on the exam. However, after studying I realized that our society sort of follows this thought process too. Sure we don't express this thought via classic statues and paintings of naked men and women and call them a representation of the gods, but through our magazines, TV shows, movies, and fashion shows we create a subconscious ideal figure that most people try to achieve. For women, society tells us that the ideal woman is a size 0 or 2 with a toned and tan body, big boobs, and a firm butt. She doesn't have blemishes, a bad hair day, and is always wearing the perfect cute outfit. Men, society tells us, are supposed to be tall, have defined muscles, a protector, a defined chin, and be able to "bring home the bacon."

But how does this make the people who don't fit that description feel? On December 14, Victoria Secret had their annual fashion show; a show that was self-proclaimed, "the sexiest night on television." 10.3 million viewers watched this show and it proved to be the most successful fashion show since 2002. But as a result of all those models strutting half naked down the cat walk, I saw status updates about how girls at my old high school think they need to go to the gym and stop eating. Some of my friends started posting a status saying that people should boycott the show so as to stop people from thinking this is what they have to become. Its not even just supermodels but also the actors and actresses of Hollywood. Sure there are a few actors who use the fact that they are overweight to their advantage but the majority of celebrities out there constantly have to watch their weight and appearance also. One fashion faux pas and the paparazzi is going to be all over them.

This social pressure we put on ourselves and others can be scary. I don't think eating disorders existed when typological thinking first began but obviously we as a human race have taken it a little too far. We will never stop looking up to people and that's completely fine for idols and heroes are a big part of a person's childhood but that idolization should not be taken to the extent of harming our health and self esteem so that others will like us more.

Comment if you have seen some horrifying example of what our society has done with regards to body image.

Thanks guys and I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season!