Journal Reflection

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School

Arizona State University *

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380

Subject

Health Science

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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pdf

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Uploaded by bluesaturn110

1. What factors (mentioned in the textbook chapters and the article) shaped your body image in your youth? ➢ After reflecting on the Body Dissatisfaction among Adolescent Boys and Girls article and chapters 8, 9, 10, 11 from The Body Image textbook, the factors that I can relate to shaping my dislike with my body image started at a young age when family members would make comments about my weight and constantly compared me to my younger sister. The social context of appearance started once I got older and started using social media more often. Every time I see a picture of a girl with the nicest body, I just start thinking to myself why I could not have been blessed with a body like them. 2. What messages do you remember hearing, seeing, or otherwise being exposed to regarding body image? ➢ The biggest messages I got from the bullying I received from family was that being fat was bad, being fat made me ugly, being fat meant no man would ever want to be with me, and being fat meant I would always get one comment a day about my weight. Overall, I was exposed to a lot of negativity towards body image that did not meet society’s standards. 3. Which people in your life influenced your body image most? ➢ I believe the people who have had the biggest influence on my body image have to be my family. Growing up my family always made jokes and comments about my weight. I was the chubby kid while my younger sister was the skinny one so I would constantly hear comments comparing us and how she was able to do this and that while I could not because I was fat and “would make the whole earth shake.” It led to years of low self-

esteem and hatred towards my body. Even after losing some weight later on, I was still not satisfied. The constant comments I would hear when I was younger, it created this mentality of wanting to be skinny. I bring myself down for eating something that was not healthy or by just looking at myself in a mirror. 4. Did you have healthy or unhealthy role models for the development of your body image? ➢ The unhealthy role models I had were the family members that had something to say about my weight growing up. My parents and grandparents would make comments saying how my sister would marry first since she is skinny, they would push their stomachs out to make them look bigger and say that that was how I looked. Hearing that as a kid made me think so badly about myself and convinced me I will never be happy unless I lose weight. 5. Do you think your current body image is shaped by your childhood perceptions? ➢ I believe that my childhood perceptions created my negative and positive body image. For example, I was constantly brought down by my family members for being an overweight kid. Their comments became ingrained in my head creating an obsession with wanting to be skinny and comparing myself to girls who I think have “the ideal body image.” Regardless of those feelings, I have learned to love and respect my body. This is the only body I will have in this lifetime, and I do not think it deserves to be hated constantly. I know I will never be satisfied with my body, but I am grateful I am in good health and am working out to get my body to where I want it to be.

6. How would you describe your current body image? ➢ I still have some issues with my current body images. My body images continue to revolve around losing weight. Seeing other girls on social media and in person increases my want to be skinny and feel horrible for looking how I look. I am learning to be more patient and understanding towards my body, but it is sometimes difficult when I still have negative thoughts towards it. I am slowly working my way up to becoming a healthy role model for body image to the kids around me.

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