Only 3% of women like their bodies (WHY ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | November 5, 2002 | The Evening Standard

[MadIvan]

Only 3% of women in the UK are totally happy with their body and 73% think about their size or shape every day, according to a new survey.

The survey of 5,000 women, commissioned by REAL magazine, found that 91% of women were unhappy with their hips and thighs, 77% were dissatisfied with their waist and 78% said they had cellulite.

Three-quarters of British women were unhappy with their shape, 71% with their weight and six out of 10 said their body image made them feel depressed.

Some 65% of those surveyed felt their life would improve considerably if they were happy with their body.

The women who took part in the survey had an average age of 33 and more than half fell within normal weight limits for their height.

But 84% of those who were of normal weight wished they were slimmer, by an average of nine pounds.

Some 68% blamed their body obsession and insecurities on other women who they said were most likely to criticise their shape and looks.

Sian Rees, editor of REAL, said: "A woman's body shape dominates her whole life - it's a modern day obsession.

"One of the driving forces is that women are increasingly influenced by celebrities - who let's face it don't live a normal life - and it can make a cruel comparison for real women trying to juggle work and family."

The Female Body Survey found 67% of women said they would definitely or possibly have plastic surgery now or in the future to improve their bodies, and that some 84% of women said they had dieted at some point.

[MadIvan]

I can only imagine the figures are comparable in the USA, Australia, Ireland, etc.

I have to ask why, though. Is it just rampant insecurity? Or is it that we are so far removed from having a variety of concepts of beauty, both inner and outer, that women feel like they have to fit a "cookie cutter" shape?

Speaking for myself, what makes a woman ultimately beautiful is what lies in her heart. Yes, physical appearance is a nice icing on the cake, but I certainly hope that I am not too dull to see it solely in one shape. I am sure the lads here on FR will agree with my perception on this.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Redleg Duke]

Jeez, Ivan. I don't care if they don't like their bodies...just as long as they like mine! ;-)

[Cincinatus]

I have to ask why, though

It's the modern "Cult of the Celebrity" which through the mass media, consistently depicts slender, svelte women as the feminine ideal. Nothing new here -- in the late 1600's, chubbiness was a sign that you had plenty of food and were therefore healthy. Hence, the feminine ideal of that age was chunkiness, rendered so memorably by Reubens (hence, "Rubenesque").

[William McKinley]

They are like Democrats. Its not a real issue, they don't really want to fix it, but they like having the issue to talk about.

Just kidding

[MadIvan]

I used to live in Antwerp and passed by Ruebens house on my way to work every day. ;)

Yes the ideal changes over time, but I think it is true that the pervasiveness of one particular ideal is stronger these days. And if I could summarise that ideal in two words, it would be "stick insect". ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

It is not easy to feel totally secure in how you look when being repeatedly bombarded with pictures of Anna Kournikova from drooling Freepers, eh? ;-)

[MadIvan]

They are like Democrats. Its not a real issue, they don't really want to fix it, but they like having the issue to talk about.

I hope your wife doesn't hear you say that. But then again, if you have a wife, she'd probably hear you think the wrong thing if you were on the other side of the galaxy. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

It is not easy to feel totally secure in how you look when being repeatedly bombarded with pictures of Anna Kournikova from drooling Freepers, eh? ;-)

Darling, I would suggest that the Anna-droolers are not the majority. At least I hope they aren't. ;)

In any event, you, have nothing to be insecure about:

Love, Ivan

[William McKinley]

My morning prayer before I get out of bed:

Lord, give me the strength to realize that I am wrong, I will be wrong, I was born wrong, and nothing I do will change the fact that I will remain forever wrong. In Your name.

[MadIvan]

Lord, give me the strength to realize that I am wrong, I will be wrong, I was born wrong, and nothing I do will change the fact that I will remain forever wrong. In Your name.

I'd say you've been married for quite some time then. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[tcostell]

IMHO, the sexiest thing on a woman is a great big IQ.

[Happygal]

*L*...You're just saying that coz you know what red-headed tempers are like *LOL*

[RightOnline]

While it's true that Hollywood and your average "Cosmopolitan" magazine cover tout a body shape that is out of reach for most women, it's equally true that few women take the time or make the effort to work out to attempt to improve their shape. That's just a sad fact.

By the way...........guys are just as guilty in a sense. Men may not obsess over their bodies the way women do (generally speaking), but they're equally likely to eschew the gym and the weight room and just shake their heads at the pudgy image in the mirror.

Get out there and start pumping some iron, people!!!!! :)

[MadIvan]

IMHO, the sexiest thing on a woman is a great big IQ.

Also if she is conservative.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

*L*...You're just saying that coz you know what red-headed tempers are like *LOL*

And you're just saying that because you want to divert attention from the fact that you're blushing and that you know I mean it. ;)

Love, Ivan

[JoeSixPack1]

The Quietman! Classic!! (Maureen on her worst day trumps Anna)

[MadIvan]

If exercise leads to better health and longer life, all well and good. But this endless pursuit of vanity is a nonsense. In the final analysis, we all get old. Things will sag. Wrinkles will appear. Hair will fall out. Yes, be healthy, but be of noble character, mind and spirit before anything else.

Regards, Ivan

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Sat Oct 19,11:07 AM ET

Russian artist Oleg Kulik installs the wax figure of the Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova (news - web sites) at his new exhibition project in Moscow, October 19, 2002. Kulik plans soon to inhabit his museum by figures of strong and beautiful women like Bjork and Madonna (news - web sites) in unexpected poses. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin

[FreedomPoster]

>>And if I could summarise that ideal in two words, it would be "stick insect".

I read an interesting theory recently on the reason for that. Gay men in media/advertizing have an inordinate amount of influence over the images we see in magazines (especially) and on TV. Their idea of a desirable woman is a thin 14-year-old boy with breasts.