Women in the U.S, U.K and greater western countries aspire to have a thin and ideal body, placing excessive importance on the ideal that being skinny is sexy and experiencing trepidation of being fat. Women value their experiences and emotions on body image and their eating habits. However, in the Caribbean, a curvy woman is regarded as sexy and healthy.
Western Ideals and Female Body Image
Baiganchoka Discover Your Culture
March 27, 2008
Simply because we haven’t heard about anorexia and bulimia in the media in Caribbean does not mean it does not exist. Just the same homosexuality has not been in the media decades ago, yet it existed.
We shouldn’t blame the media partially or not for the choices we make. Women are trying be “sexy” as everyone else from what they see in the media and what they see around them. That is a choice they make to fit in. If they are now “skinny” as a result of it, then they need to evaluate their values – apparently they are not happy with themselves. Apsana, are you anorexic? If you are not (which would be my guess) then you obviously made that choice to not follow this trend. And everyone else has that same choice.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the media is not influential because it is. We are all influenced one way or another not only by the media, but by everyone and everything around us. But when it comes down to it we all make a choice.
Reader,
I am quite sure from your reply that you do not quite understand the effect pitutary gland and and limbic systems have in Anorexia and Bulimia. In the caribbean, Anorexia and Bulimia is not wide subjects subjects of discussion ….In fact, journal or gastroenterology published epidemological studies on Bulimia and Anorexia prevelances in caribbean countries…look it up! What you would find is disproportoniate statisitcs in the south verses the north.. Social psychology dictates that Bulemia and Anorexia are psycho-social disorders driven by no other than social influx..DSM-IV also list Anorexia and Bulimia within that category…The Media has quite alot to do with it…look around you….
As to making choices you under estimate the unconcious vulnurability of the psyche..
Studies referencing the same were also published in Psychology monthly and journal of Public health …the results were basically those i referenceed before
if you need any proof why you shouldn’t listen to those people on much of anything just take a look at their lists on the 50 most beautiful people in the world or any such other garbage list they come up with. they might toss in J-Lo or Halle berry every once in a while to represent the world majorities
just curious, do you have any sources for this or is it all opinionated? i want to write a research project on this exact topic, but the caribbean is totally under-represented in terms of body image research!