Week 11 : readings

Question 1

Texbook Physical appearance

is body weight voluntary or involuntary?

Answer 1

• both
• voluntary = ppl choose how much to eat & exercise
• involuntary = psychological, social & biological factors influence the outcomes

Question 2

Texbook Physical appearance

‘body projects’

Answer 2

• Shilling
• refers to the ways each of us adapts, changes or controls characteristics of out bodies & whether those characteristics are voluntary or involuntary
• too short = wear heels, too tall = slouch

Question 3

Texbook Physical appearance

4 categories of body projects

Answer 3

1. camoflaging projects… we control apperance of bodies to adhere to norms through makeup, clothes, hair, etc.
2. extending projects… attempt to overcome a physical limitation, e.g. using contacts or a cane
3. adapting projects… alter appearance of the body in more effortful ways, e.g. bodybuilding/weightloss
4. redesigning projects… create permamnent changes in body through invasive methods like cosmetic surgery & tattooing

Question 4

Texbook Physical appearance

School dress codes

Answer 4

• hidden curiculum reflecting middle class, white, heteronormative values & reproduces social inequality
• policies emphasize female clothing & this is problematic cuz… reflects victim-blaming, body shames girls & reproduces elite discourses of gender
• female body is constructed as inherently unprofessional
• targets low income & racialized students

Question 5

Texbook Physical appearance

Body modification history…

Answer 5

• 5300 year old mummy found w/ tats
• early christians had cross
• durkheim - before industrialization body modification had important function for membership but as colonization happened the tattooed & peirced ppl were brought to europe to be in carnivals and shit
• 20th century… tattooing entered society (not rly privilleged class)
• 21st century… pop culture, tattoos advertised to children
• body modification more common among uni students

Question 6

Texbook Physical appearance

the extent to which body modification is associated with other risky behaviour varies based on several factors…

Answer 6

1. number of body modifications an individual has (threshold 4)
2. age… risks greater for adolescence

Question 7

Subjectivist view…

Answer 7

• body projects are part of ppls understanding of themselves, others & the world around them
• through our interactions with others, we attribute certain meanings to body modification & understandings of the role body modification will play in our own lives
• body art are part of constructing out front & back-stage selves & have to deal w/ impression management
• form of ‘public storytelling’

Question 8

Gender & body art

Answer 8

• some women use tatoos in the construction of their gender identities
• established femininity… embodies the dominant cultural constructions of what a female body should look like (using tattooing to enhance femininity)
• resistant femininity… opposes dominant gender ideals & thereby serves as a form of resistance to existing structures of power in society (tattooing is part of this resistance)

Question 9

work & body art

Answer 9

• body art may signify membership in a specific occupational group… or may reflect an individuals identity as a worker
• certain workplaces may accept body art, while others do not
• depends on the location of the tattoo, the organization type, the proximity of worker to customers/clients & the design of the tattoo

Question 10

Ideal body according to science…

Answer 10

• BMI… 18.5-24.9 is ‘normal’, 25-29.9 is ‘overweight’, 30+ is ‘obese’ & 18.4 or lower is ‘underweight’
• 39% of adults are overweight/obese worldwide & been increasing in Canada & fewer than 10% underweight
• Anorexia is a mental disorder w/ the highest mortality rate & more common among female young ppl
• muscle dysmorphia 7-22% of males
• this is more objective with genetic psychological,f amily & larger sociocultural factors being researched

Question 11

ideal body according to social standards…

Answer 11

• a small range of bodies is considered ‘ideal’
• ideal body for men & women leans towards ‘thin’ side of the continuum & a body outside this range is unattractive & in need of fixing
• ppls perceptions of the ideal body are intertwined with their views of the ‘average’ body

Question 12

Ideals of atractiveness stem from media protrayls like… (3)

Answer 12

1. fictions… only a select few can realistically achieve them
2. fashions… they become the standards fot attractiveness in society
3. functions… they dictate gender-specific functions of women’s and men’s bodies… women = thin, busty, sexuality passivity & men = ‘ripped’, physical action, dominance

Question 13

‘too fat’

perceptions of overweight ppl

Answer 13

• face stigmatization (even tho its legit common)
• stereotyped in negative ways like lazy, unfriendly, boring, incompetent & related to negative emotions when ppl look at them
• reflected in the media
• formally & informally controlled

Question 14

‘too fat’

controlling ‘too fat’

Answer 14

• kids get teased = lower academic performance
• education, healthcare & employment discrimination
• self regulation

Question 15

‘too fat’

media & commercialization

Answer 15

• media socially controls the ideals
• ‘right’ body, fitness level & eating habits are indicators of strong morality in media
• media is a tool used by other agents of social control
• commercial industry provides a massive range of products for controlling body size

Question 16

‘too fat’

Medicalization & communities

Answer 16

• being overweight is obviously a health risk but the medical control of ppl who are ‘too fat; sometimes step sourside realm of health & into physical appearance
• communities have developed many measures to encourage physical fitness health & wellbeing

Question 17

‘too fat’

governments…

Answer 17

• world population is negatively impacted so nations experience economic drains from things like healthcare costs
• globally ecnomic costs of healthcare more than 1 trillion per year so governments have tried to reduce proportion of overweight ppl
• government policies & programs fall into 4 categories… (1) focus on public info & education, (2) those that increase availability of healthy food choices, (3) modify costs of food based on health-related things, (4) those that restrict unealthy food choices

Question 18

‘too fat’

consequences of social control

Answer 18

• everyone is affected
• body dissatisfaction varies across cultures (higher in more consumerist cultures & warm climates)
• youth & media intense (social media)

Question 19

‘too fat’

resisting the label

Answer 19

• many individual & various organizations are taking steps to curb this social typing process (body positivity movement)
• fitness websites may include articles abt dangers of fab diets
• celebreties fight it
• areas of emphasis for these resistance activities are twofold… (1) to promote the sound nutrition & physical fitness in pursuit of good health, (2) to remove social stigma from ppl who are overweight, broadening the standards of physical attractiveness in our culture

Question 20

‘too thin’

perceptions of ppl who are underweight

Answer 20

• less than 10% of the world
• proportions lower in hich-income countries like Canada
• ppl place value on underweight females as beautiful (even w/ eating disorders)

Question 21

‘too thin’

medicalization & governments

Answer 21

• medical community makes ppl at most extreme end of thinnes subject to control
• Canadian Eating Disorders Strategy developed cuz of significant gaps in the existing health care system (6 pillars - prevention, public education & awareness, improving access, caregiver support, training of health professions & ppl who work with youth & research)
• governments models with BMI under 18 permitted from working in some countries or have to present health certificates

Question 22

‘too thin’

Media & interpersonal interactions

Answer 22

• thin-shaming on media
• ppl who are super thin find themselves on the recieving end of 3 types of comments… (1) related to attractiveness [negative & positive], (2) comments relayed to levels of concern, (3) comments indicative of resentment
• labelling friends or family members as anorexia leads to the types of trestment from above
• an anorexia identity forms & a lifestyle becomes entrenched

Question 23

‘too thin’

resisting the label

Answer 23

• ppl who are thin use different strategies to come with the comments they recieve from others
• soe are problem focused & others are emotion focused

Question 24

Body image of veterans

Introduction

Answer 24

• Military combat activities result in appearance-altering injuries (e.g., amputations, scars).
• Substantial numbers of US and UK military personnel affected.
• Psychological impact rarely studied; focus on medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological trauma.
• Civilians with altered appearance face challenges (e.g., body image, self-esteem, relationships).

Question 25

Body image of veterans

Nature of combat veterans experience

Answer 25

• Limited exploration of combat veterans’ experiences with changed appearance post-injury
• Two papers indicate an association between appearance-altering injuries, symptoms of depression, and body image distress.
• Common psychosocial challenges reported: self-consciousness, social isolation, concern about others’ perceptions, anger, sleep problems, and relationship difficulties
• Lack of specific research on support needs and interventions for combat-injured veterans with appearance concerns.

Question 26

Body image of veterans

Implications and Future Directions:

Answer 26

• Need for research on military context’s role in appearance adjustment
• Investigate prosthetic use, pain, and appearance concerns in military populations
• Specific research needed with UK combat-injured personnel
• Evaluate existing support and develop military-specific interventions.