Body Image across Generations
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Chuka University College *
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Health Science
Date
Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by sirlincolnme
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Body Image across Generations
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Body Image across Generations
Part 1:
Introduction:
For this project, I interviewed three members of my biological family from three different
generations to gain insight into their experiences and perceptions of body image. The first
interviewee was my grandmother, who is in her late 70s, followed by my Aunt in her late 40s,
and my cousin in her early 20s. I selected these individuals because of the significant age
differences between them, as well as their close relationship to me. In this report, I will present a
summary of each interview and explore the similarities and differences between each generation.
Interviewee 1: My Grandmother
My grandmother is in her late 70s and has lived a full life. She was born and raised in a rural area
of our country, and has seen a lot of changes in society and culture over the years. She is
someone who has always been proud of who she is and has a strong sense of self.
Question 1: What was considered "beautiful" or "handsome" when you were my age?
My grandmother shared that when she was growing up, having a curvy figure was considered
desirable for women. A full bust and hips were seen as attractive, and women were encouraged to
wear clothing that accentuated these features. For men, being tall and muscular was seen as
desirable.
Question 2: Was your self-esteem affected by your size or shape as you were growing up?
My grandmother shared that while she did feel some pressure to conform to societal beauty
standards, she never let it affect her self-esteem. She believed that true beauty comes from within
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and that it was more important to be kind, generous, and caring than to have a certain body shape
or size.
Question 3: Did you engage in any "practices" (special diets, exercise, use of supplements, etc.)
to alter your body shape in order to meet the standard "ideal" of physical beauty?
My grandmother shared that she never engaged in any extreme practices to alter her body shape.
She believes that taking care of oneself through exercise and healthy eating is important, but that
it should not be done to conform to societal beauty standards.
Question 4: How much time, money, and energy did you devote to making yourself "beautiful" /
"handsome" when you were my age?
My grandmother shared that she did not devote a lot of time, money, or energy to her
appearance. She believed that natural beauty is more important than artificial enhancements and
that aging is a natural process that should be embraced.
Question 5: What were the primary body image influences in your life when you were my age?
(friends, family, media, magazines, sports, other)
My grandmother shared that her primary body image influences came from her family and close
friends. She did not have access to media or magazines growing up and did not participate in
sports or other activities that would have influenced her body image.
Question 6: What 2 to 4 suggestions do you have for achieving a healthy and happy body image
at any age?
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My grandmother suggested that it is important to focus on inner beauty and to take care of
oneself through healthy habits. She believes that it is important to surround oneself with positive
influences and to avoid comparing oneself to others.
Question 7: How do you define 'beautiful" in a woman and "handsome" in a man?
My grandmother defines beauty in a woman as being kind, caring, and compassionate. She
believes that inner beauty shines through and that physical appearance is secondary. For men, she
believes that being confident, respectful, and honest is what makes a person handsome.
Question 8: How has your perception of beauty changed over time? Do you think societal
standards of beauty have influenced this change?
My grandmother shared that her perception of beauty has remained consistent over time. She
believes that societal standards of beauty can be fleeting and that it is important to focus on inner
beauty and personal values.
Question 9: Have you ever felt pressured to conform to certain beauty standards? If so, how did
you navigate this pressure?
My grandmother shared that while she has felt pressure to conform to certain beauty standards,
she never let it affect her self-esteem or her sense of self-worth. She believes that it is important
to stay true to oneself and to focus on what truly matters in life.Question 10: In your opinion, do
you think the media has a significant impact on our perception of beauty? If yes, how?
My grandmother shared that she believes that the media has a huge impact on our perception of
beauty. When she was growing up, the media was not as prevalent as it is today, and the beauty
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standards were different. However, as she has grown older and has watched the media evolve,
she has noticed that the pressure to conform to a certain standard of beauty has become more
intense. She shared that she has seen the impact of the media on her grandchildren, who are
constantly bombarded with images of "perfect" bodies and faces on social media.
Interviewee 2: My Aunt
My aunt, who is in her late 40s, has always been someone I looked up to as a role model.
She is a successful businesswoman, a loving mother, and a dedicated wife. I chose to interview
her because she has always been open about her struggles with body image and her journey
towards self-love and acceptance.
Question 1: What was considered "beautiful" or "handsome" when you were my age?
My aunt explained that when she was my age, thinness was highly valued, and women
were expected to have a certain body shape. She also mentioned that there was a greater
emphasis on achieving a certain look through fashion and makeup than there is now.
Question 2: Was your self-esteem affected by your size or shape as you were growing up?
My aunt admitted that she struggled with her body image and self-esteem when she was
growing up. She felt pressure to conform to society's beauty standards, and this often made her
feel inadequate and insecure.
Question 3: Did you engage in any "practices" (special diets, exercise, use of supplements, etc.)
to alter your body shape in order to meet the standard "ideal" of physical beauty?
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My aunt shared that she tried various diets and exercise routines to achieve a certain body
shape, but ultimately realized that these practices were not sustainable and were not making her
happy.
Question 4: How much time, money, and energy did you devote to making yourself "beautiful" /
"handsome" when you were my age?
My aunt explained that she spent a significant amount of time and money on fashion and
beauty products to achieve a certain look. However, she also mentioned that as she got older, she
began to prioritize her mental and emotional well-being over her physical appearance.
Question 5: What were the primary body image influences in your life when you were my age?
(friends, family, media, magazines, sports, other)
My aunt mentioned that media and magazines played a significant role in shaping her
body image ideals. She also explained that her peers and family members also had an influence
on her perceptions of beauty and desirability.
Question 6: What 2 to 4 suggestions do you have for achieving a healthy and happy body image
at any age?
My aunt's suggestions for achieving a healthy and happy body image include:
Focusing on self-care and self-acceptance
Surrounding oneself with positive influences and people who uplift and support them
Prioritizing mental and emotional well-being over physical appearance
Challenging societal beauty standards and embracing diversity and individuality
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Question 7: How do you define 'beautiful" in a woman and "handsome" in a man?
My aunt defined beauty as being confident, compassionate, and kind. She emphasized the
importance of inner beauty and the impact it has on a person's overall attractiveness.
Question 8: How has your perception of beauty changed over time? Do you think societal
standards of beauty have influenced this change?
My aunt explained that her perception of beauty has shifted over time, and that she now
values inner beauty and individuality more than she did when she was younger. She believes that
societal standards of beauty have played a role in shaping her perceptions, but also acknowledges
that her personal experiences and growth have played a significant role in shaping her views.
Question 9: Have you ever felt pressured to conform to certain beauty standards? If so, how did
you navigate this pressure?
My aunt shared that she has felt pressure to conform to societal beauty standards, but has
learned to navigate this pressure by focusing on self-love and self-acceptance. She also
emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences and rejecting toxic
messages about beauty and desirability.
Question 10: In your opinion, do you think the media has a significant impact on our perception
of beauty? If yes, how?
My Aunt explained that she believed the media has a significant impact on people's
perception of beauty. According to her, during her growing up days, access to media was limited
to magazines, TV, and movies. However, with the rise of social media and the internet, the
pressure on young people to conform to certain beauty standards has become almost ubiquitous.
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Everywhere one looks, there are images of seemingly perfect people, which can lead to self-
comparison and negative self-image. My Aunt stressed that it's important to remember that these
images are often heavily edited and not real, and that everyone possesses their unique beauty.
Interviewee 3: My Cousin
My cousin, in her early 20s, is a college student studying psychology. She is passionate
about mental health and wellness and enjoys practicing yoga and meditation in her free time. She
has always been interested in body positivity and how it relates to mental health.
Question 1: What was considered "beautiful" or "handsome" when you were my age?
My cousin mentioned that she thinks there has been a shift towards more diverse
representations of beauty in recent years, but when she was growing up, the media still heavily
promoted a thin and conventionally attractive body type as the ideal.
Question 2: Was your self-esteem affected by your size or shape as you were growing up?
She shared that she struggled with her body image in high school, often feeling like she
didn't fit in or measure up to her peers.
Question 3: Did you engage in any "practices" (special diets, exercise, use of supplements, etc.)
to alter your body shape in order to meet the standard "ideal" of physical beauty?
She mentioned that she tried dieting and restricting certain foods in the past, but has since
realized the importance of intuitive eating and nourishing her body with foods that make her feel
good.
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Question 4: How much time, money, and energy did you devote to making yourself "beautiful" /
"handsome" when you were my age?
She shared that she used to spend a lot of time and energy on her appearance, but has
since shifted her focus towards self-care and inner well-being.
Question 5: What were the primary body image influences in your life when you were my age?
(friends, family, media, magazines, sports, other)
She mentioned that media and magazines were the biggest influences on her body image
growing up.
Question 6: What 2 to 4 suggestions do you have for achieving a healthy and happy body image
at any age?
Her suggestions included: practicing self-care and self-compassion, focusing on overall
health rather than just appearance, surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people, and
avoiding comparisons to others.
Question 7: How do you define 'beautiful" in a woman and "handsome" in a man?
She believes that beauty and handsomeness are subjective and can vary from person to
person, but for her, qualities like confidence, kindness, and authenticity are attractive.
Question 8: How has your perception of beauty changed over time? Do you think societal
standards of beauty have influenced this change?
She mentioned that her perception of beauty has definitely changed over time and that
exposure to diverse representations of beauty has played a big role in this change.
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Question 9: Have you ever felt pressured to conform to certain beauty standards? If so, how did
you navigate this pressure?
She shared that she has felt pressure to conform to certain beauty standards in the past,
but has learned to prioritize her own well-being and values over external expectations.
Question 10: In your opinion, do you think the media has a significant impact on our perception
of beauty? If yes, how?
She believes that the media has a significant impact on our perception of beauty, but that
we can also take control of our own media consumption and seek out diverse representations of
beauty.
Part 2:
After conducting interviews with three generations of my family, I have noticed both
similarities and differences in their responses. In terms of what was considered beautiful or
handsome when they were my age, all three generations mentioned the importance of physical
appearance, specifically weight and clothing. However, there were also differences in their
responses. My grandmother, who are in her late 70s, talked about how being thin was not always
fashionable when they were young. She mentioned how in the 1960s, there was a shift towards
embracing curves and a fuller figure, which was a departure from the previous ideal of being
very thin. On the other hand, my aunt and cousin talked about how being thin has been idealized
for most of their lives.
In terms of self-esteem being affected by size or shape, my grandmother did not seem to
have been as affected by these factors as my aunt and cousin. This could be due to differences in
social and cultural expectations during their time versus now. My grandmother also did not
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engage in as many practices to alter their body shape, such as diets or supplements, as my aunt
and cousin did. My aunts and cousin mentioned that they have tried various diets and exercise
routines to achieve a certain body shape.
There were also differences in how much time, money, and energy was devoted to
making oneself beautiful or handsome. My grandmother mentioned that they did not spend as
much time or money on beauty as my parents and cousins did. This could be due to differences
in the availability of beauty products and services, as well as differences in social expectations
regarding beauty. My parents and cousins, on the other hand, mentioned spending significant
amounts of time and money on beauty products, clothing, and services.
The primary body image influences in each generation’s life varied as well. My
grandmother mentioned that family and close friends were the primary influences in their lives,
while my aunt and cousin mentioned media, magazines, and sports as major influences. This
could be due to the rise of mass media and the internet, which has made media and advertising
more accessible and pervasive.
When it comes to suggestions for achieving a healthy and happy body image, there were
some similarities across generations. All three generations emphasized the importance of
focusing on health rather than just appearance, as well as the importance of self-acceptance and
being comfortable in one’s own skin. They also emphasized the importance of finding a physical
activity or exercise that one enjoys, rather than forcing oneself to do something they dislike.
In conclusion, while there were differences in the responses of each generation, there
were also similarities. All three generations emphasized the importance of physical appearance,
but the specific ideal varied. There were also differences in how much time and money was spent
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on beauty, as well as differences in the primary influences on body image. However, all three
generations provided similar suggestions for achieving a healthy and happy body image,
emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and focusing on health.
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