Society and a Woman's Quest for a Thin Body
Many Women Have a False Sense of What Defines an Ideal Figure
Feb 5, 2009
Female models used to sell desirable products such as blue-chip automobiles, health club memberships or travel to romantic destinations are generally unrepresentative of the majority of women that purchase such products. Perhaps the typical woman, who tends to devalue herself due to dissatisfaction with her body, unconsciously buys products presented by unusually thin models with the expectation that purchasing such things improves her body image.
For most women, getting a super thin body is not only unrealistic, but also self-defeating. Consider the fact that genetic predisposition plays an important role in body structure. Women that have larger frames will not become as thin as the models used to sell glam products.
Moreover, an emaciated appearance is not considered ideal by many men. Certainly, this is not to imply that men's ideals should factor into women’s body images, but many women believe that men are highly attracted to thin legs, boyishly lean hips and large breasts.
True some guys prefer super thin women, but from an empirical standpoint many men tend to select more curvaceous women with fuller hips and breasts smaller than imagined by the typical woman. In other words, a man’s vision of an attractive woman is often more realistic than a woman’s vision. Perhaps women could learn something from men and realize there is a misconception about the charm of super thin female bodies.
Women generally have more difficulty with fat loss than men do. With the complexity of hormones, child bearing and habits related to feminine physiology, there is a genetic predisposition for women to sustain higher fat concentrations---especially on the hips and buttocks. However, nature can be counteracted through useful information and wise decision-making.
Much of the pressure women face regarding body fat might be attributed to women themselves. Clothing manufacturers are aware that women tend to dress for other women and the most popular styles often reflect clothing best suited to thinner, less fat body frames. And since women often inspect other women’s clothing for comparisons, such situations often create emotional conflicts for more buxom women. The constant pressure to be slimmer in order to wear the hippest fashions places undue social stigmas on women carrying excess body fat.
Fortunately, there seems to be shifting views of the ideal feminine shape. The prominence of health and fitness industries along with recent scientific discoveries emphasizes the fit, health conscious woman regardless of her shape; this is the reason fad diets and the use of scales as a measure of progress is slowly becoming obsolete.
Fit women become naturally shapelier. Excess body fat decreases as muscles contour her frame. There is increased calorie burning to sustain shapely muscles throughout the day and night. Fit women develop strong bodies that function better under stress and generally recover quicker from fatigue and illness. A fit body creates confidence and is within reach of most women.
Although super thin bodies are usually touted by media as ideal, many women are redefining standards of beauty through exercise, sensible diet and knowledge that thinner bodies are not necessarily healthier bodies.
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