Abstract In this study, current and ideal body shape and the body shape of the other sex found most attracted were measured. This also administered 30 female and 30 male to indicate their current figure, their ideal figure, the figure that they felt would be most attracted (Fallon &Rozin, 1985). It was also found that that there is a mild positive correlation between age and ideal body shape for women and age and the female body shape found most attractive by men (Prevos, 2005).
Discrepancy between current and ideal figures was used to measure body satisfaction. However, gender and age produced significant differences in ratings. (Safir, 2005). Introduction On women perception of body image excerpted in the work of Chojnacki et al, (2005), “Millions of women every day are bombarded with the media’s idea of the “perfect” body. These unrealistic images are portrayed in women’s magazines all over the country. The message being sent to women is that they are not pretty or skinny enough.
The average American woman is 5’4” and weighs 140 pounds, while the average American model is 5’11” and weighs 117 pounds1 Annually, magazine companies spend billions of dollars on diet and exercise advertisements to put in their magazines2. Magazines sell body dissatisfaction to their readers through unrealistic images of women, as well as dieting and exercise information. Thirty years ago, Marilyn Monroe, a size 14, had the “ideal” body shape and size, but today’s standard is much smaller3. As the beauty ideal continues to get smaller in our society, body image within American women
continues to plummet. Magazines portray and compare happiness with being thin; therefore some feel if they are not thin, then they are not happy4. As with women of all ages, many college-age women are believed to hold unrealistic ideals of body shape and size, ideals that can be both physically and emotionally unhealthy. ” Men on the other hand, were split between wanting a smaller and larger body. The comparison of differences on one’s actual and ideal body size as a measure of dissatisfaction highlights displeasure with one’s own body5.
In this paper, it tends to discuss the perception of women on ideal body shape and so with men6. To avoid this bias toward negativity that occurs when these concepts are merged, the present study contextualizes body size evaluations in the realm of what might be acceptable. It examines the hypothesis that, across a wide range of ages and weight status, people consider their own body size to be “good enough,” within the range of socially acceptable body sizes even though it may not match their ideal. (Rand & Resnick, 2000). Ideal Mass Index based on Department of Health And Human services Consensus.
According to Department of Health (1992) the ideal mass index for ages 45-54 is 22 and 27 greater than 25 it indicates you are over weight and greater than 30 generally indicates obesity. Generally women desirable mass is 21-23 and for men it is 22- 24. To get the mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing your weight (in kg) by the square of your height (in meters). Another calculation from Yahoo. com question forum (2006), in getting the ideal body weight the height this is the formula sample 45kg + (2. 3 X height in inches>60 inches. Height Ideal Weight 5’0 100lbs 5’1 105 lbs 5’2 110lbs 5’3 115lbs 5’4 120lbs
5’5 125lbs 5’6 130lbs 5’7 135lbs 5’8 140lbs 5’9 145lbs 6’0 150lbs More than average of women likes to have an ideal weight body weight, unfortunately, based on their current weight is far from what they wanted and so with men. As the age grow older the ideal weight is more likely not to meet. The more they are far from their ideal body weight. Body Figure Preference of Men and Women Most women, they prepared to be thinnest than their actual size. Usually being thin gives additional esteem and self confidence7. Even though their actual size differ on their ideal weight still they are more likely to have a skinny body.
The women think those males are more likely to attract them if they are slim. 8 On the other hand, for men students who are exposed to the muscular images showed a significantly greater discrepancy between their own perceived muscularity and the level of muscularity that they ideally wanted to have. The male prepare to have a broader shoulder or a heavier body with muscles to be self satisfied. Interestingly, the overweight male figures were not discriminated against as much as the overweight female figures appeared to be. Thinness as an ideal appears to be more important when judging women than when judging men.
This trend may be reflected in women’s greater dissatisfaction with their bodies, a phenomenon that seems to be increasing over time Figures most likely Attractive to Men Men preferences or expectations for female thinness were the strongest predictor of body shape and size concerns9. However, 577 consecutive copies of monthly issues of Playboy, from the first edition of December 1953 to the December 2001 the data on height, weight and measurements for the bust, waist and hip accompanied the photographs was still an issue attractive to men. The men should rate women who have a waist-hip ratio in the range . 67 to .
80(Young, 2002). Figures most likely Attractive to Women From women’s point of view, they prepared young, healthy, strong, and successful, well liked, respected by his peers, and willing and able to protect and provide for her and her children. Women believed that a man with good body posture or rather good body build would like have the ability and willingness to protect a woman from physical attack or intimidation. In all three countries, men chose an ideal body that was a mean of about 28 lb (13 kg) more muscular than themselves and estimated that women preferred a male body about 30 lb (14 kg) more muscular than themselves10.
In a pilot study, however, it is found out that actual women preferred an ordinary male body without added muscle (Pope et al, 2002). Conclusion Based on the research most men of all ages are faced dissatisfaction with their bodies, often associated with reduced self-esteem. They wanted to be bigger. They also prepare skinny women in this recent times influenced by magazines they read. As the age of men getting bigger the body shape also decline from muscle figure to fatty bigger bodies. Whereas girls typically wanted to be thinner to be like by men.
The women with the older aged express dissatisfaction with their weight gain in terms of their physical appearance. However, they also tend to describe the need to lose weight in terms of health risks and benefits rather than in terms of approximating the beauty ideal or achieving a desired body size and shape. Health tends to be described as a valid justification for being concerned with one’s weight, while an appearance orientation is deemed to be indicative of vanity. In general, a large majority (87%) of subjects in the total subject pool considered their actual body size to be within the range of socially acceptable body sizes11.
This finding held true for both females and males ages 16 to 65. The results of this study confirmed the hypothesis that, across a wide range of ages and weights, most people consider their own body size within the range of acceptable body sizes, even though it may not match their ideal (Rand & Resnick, 2000).
References Body Mass Index. (1992). Department of Health. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from http://members. nuvox. net/~on. jwclymer/bmi. html Chojacki et al, (2006). Depleting Body Image. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from http://www. ssc. wisc. edu/~jpiliavi/357/body-image. htm.
Fallon, A. E. , & Rozin, P. (1985). Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94(1), 102-105. Ideal Body Weight. (2006). Yahoo ask question. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from www. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=100605235878 Lamb, C. , Jackson, L. , Cassiday, P. & priest, D. (2004). Body figure preferences of men and women. Sex roles a Journal of research. Vol. 28, Number 5-6. pp. 345-358. Lamb, C. S. , Jackson, L. A. , Cassiday, P. B. , & Priest, D. J. , (1993). Body figure preferences of men and women: A comparison of two generations.
Sex Roles, 28, 345-358 Pope et al. (2002). Body Perception among men in the Three Countries. Am J Psychiatry 157:1297-1301. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from http://ajp. psychiatryonline. org/cgi/content/abstract/157/8/1297 Prevos, Peter. (2005). Differences in Body Image between Man and Women. Psychology IA Monash University. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from www. prevos. net Rand, C. & Resnick, J. (2000). The God enough Body Size as judge by People of varying Age and Weight. The North American association for the Study of Obesity.
Retrieved October 25, 2006, from http://www. obesityresearch. org/cgi/content/full/8/4/309 Safir, Marilyn. (2005). When Gender Differences Surpass Cultural Differences in Personal Satisfaction with Body Shape in Israeli College Students. Sex Roles a Journal of Research Vol. 52, Number 5-6. pp 369-378 Tiggeman, M. (1992). Body-size dissatisfaction: Individual differences in age and gender and relationship with self-esteem Young, Emma. (2002). Centerfold models getting more androgynous. Journal reference: British Medical Journal (vol 325, p 1447).