Answer to Question #314270 in Philosophy for denla

Question

What do you think are the factors that affects the concept of beauty and self esteem of people nowadays?

Answer 1

Positive body image and healthy self-esteem are important to a person health and wellbeing. The media, people around us, and popular culture all influence our body image. In today's society, children and youth are exposed to many images that show being thin and muscular as a standard of beauty, elegance and masculinity. Television, magazines, movies, the internet and social media sites are full of these images.

Various factors will affect how we feel about ourselves and our bodies. Some factors are controllable, others are not. Certain factors may also affect one person more than another person. How we react to all these factors can determine our self-esteem and body image. These factors include;

1. Age. Thoughts and feelings about your body start in late childhood and early adolescence. However, poor body image can affect people of all ages.
2. Puberty. The beginning of puberty brings on many changes for young teenagers. During this period, it is normal for teens to put on 30-40 lbs as the body changes and develops. For girls, this extra weight is usually noticed in gains around the hips, waist, thighs and buttocks. For boys, they will get broader shoulders, more muscle mass and grow taller than girls. This is the time when young teens start to focus on their looks, their weight and their shape and often compare themselves to their friends and what they see in the media.
3. Body size. Children and teens who believe they are overweight (whether they are or not) tend to be more at risk for poor body image.
4. Society and culture. Society's norms and views may stop boys and young men from talking about negative feelings about their bodies or reaching out to others to get support. This will often lead to an under reporting of the issue of poor body image in boys. 
5. Beauty/fashion industry. Every day we see ads from the beauty, fashion, diet and exercise industries that show "perfect" bodies. Many youth compare themselves to these ads. This can lead to low self-esteem and poor body image because:

• Teenage girls often look at women's magazines or websites for their makeup and fashion tips.
• Teenage boys often look at fitness and muscle magazines or websites to get their information on health, fitness and fashion.