Well June was notable for a few reasons: I did my first
presentation for a group as a speaker under my own name; I attended a meeting
of a group I have become an associate with and learned heaps (mostly that there
is still heaps for me to learn); I discovered some great publicity opportunities for a children’s theatre production we are putting together on a very
tight budget; and I did a whole heap of sit ups and can still hold a plank
position for more than 2 minutes and it’s this last one that has prompted me to
write this week.
At the end of May something popped up on Facebook and I
thought it seemed like a good idea at the time, it was sort of social (as I
tried to rope in other FB friends) and I thought it would help stave off the
preparing for hibernation instinct that I fall into as winter sets in. This idea/challenge was a sit up/belly toning exercise challenge for the
whole of June, steadily increasing in number of reps and time as the days
clocked by. To ensure I stuck with this regime I made it public on Facebook and
set myself a pretty dire consequence for lack of completion and that was
posting a photo of myself wearing a bikini!
It is now July, the challenge is completed. My belly is no
trimmer really but my back hurts a little more now. Yes I know that isolated
exercise doesn’t work and I also know that having chocolate, chips and cheese
and crackers is not a recommended daily diet necessity (the hibernating bear
instinct is strong in this one, and I figured that as I was punishing myself I
deserved a treat now and then!!!) So why did I continue with this challenge
when clearly it wasn’t my thing? Well for one I felt that I’d let others down
if I didn’t and secondly and more importantly the consequence of not completing
was too grim! This does prove that making goals public and setting powerful
consequences supports motivation, that is a good thing. However it also proves
that I am super self-conscious about my body and that is not a good thing. Why
should a consequence like that be so incredibly negative?
I really ought to know better, I have studied the topic of
body image, I have even taught young people about it. I am in my 40’s, my body
has done well so far getting me here, it has helped grow and feed a little one,
it has carried my over active mind around and tolerated the abuse of stress at
times pretty well too. Seems bizarre to not appreciate it, with all the
associated lumps and bumps.
And you see, when I think about the threat of posing in my
bikini for all the FB world to see, I think that the years of bombardment
through the media of what a beautiful body looks like has got me thinking I
don’t measure up. And I don’t. Mind you when you start to delve into it,
neither do most of the people in the glossly magazines either! A few years ago I had a little bit to do with
EDEN (Eating Disorders Education Network) and did a course with them around body
image and critical media literacy which was a real eye opener to be honest. Even
the models and actresses/actors that are hailed for their good looks are
enhanced routinely in the photo-editing suite, and that is after the
fitness/diet gurus, the hair and make up gurus and photographic geniuses have
had their turn.
Seemingly innocent images when put under the microscope make
you take a step back and start to wonder… I now can’t look at an image without
asking, has this been enhanced? And so when I opened up a flyer that arrived
for a pharmacy I think and saw this image I was amused… just doesn’t look right
when you look at the shoulders, the shape of the back, the position of the arms
including length… well not right if ‘perfection’ is what is being aimed for!
And check out this one. It is one I have used quite a lot
and appeared in Jezebel.com originally I think. It is great to have the
original beside the enhanced cover photo. When you just look at the cover
photo, it looks fine, she is beautiful as she should be, all is well in the
world. But then if you look a little closer do you not think her front arm
looks a little long? And what about her neck and waist? Compare the original
with the enhanced image and it starts to look a little alien!
Now some people suggest that as we know many images are
enhanced we should accept it as the way the world works, inlcuding one industry editor who claimed that 'photoshopping is an industry standard' and that they photoshopped one celebrity so she was shown at her 'personal best'! (For more click here for an interesting article). It would seem that the advice is that we just move on because this is normal but I don’t
think that resolves the issues. I knew that many photos were enhanced but until
I sat down and was made really aware I just didn’t realise how subtle it was
and how skewed my perception of ‘normal’ or ‘beautiful’ was when glancing at
these images. So what could this be doing to young minds who are wrangling
through the first awkward steps of defining who they are?
Now I don't have all the answers but I do have a couple of suggestions:
- this isn't just a girls issue, images of men are being manipulated with equal lack of consideration
- there are some great folk out there challenging this photoshopped 'ideal' image mania, please see a couple below as examples that you could look at yourself and share with your friends.
- we need to be educating our friends, colleagues and children about what is actually being done, how we are being duped so they are able to make informed decisions about the media they are viewing
- be a positive body image role model... if you 'hate' your belly (and why would you as it is like the most amazing fuel processing machine ever!) please don't say this in front of your children... they look up to you (I also know this can be a little tricky at times when your favourite jeans won't do up at the end of the 'hibernating' season!)
- be aware, notice how you feel and what you say to yourself when viewing other people's bodies in magazines, on the screen or in real life... if it is one of judgement about them or about yourself you might like to challenge some of that commentary to create a healthier respect for the diversity of the human body?
In closing, I did consider putting a photo of me in my bikini in here as a challenge to the industry of falsified perfection but it is winter, it's jolly cold, and bikini's in winter are just plain silly, unless of course you are travelling somewhere warm! So in the spirit of sensibility I have opted instead to share the following videos.
References and images:
For image of Faith Hill http://www.fitsugar.com/Speak-Up-Photoshopped-Faith-Hill-419860
Jezebel.com for more info re. Faith Hill photo: http://jezebel.com/278919/heres-our-winner-redbook-shatters-our-faith-in-well-not-publishing-but-maybe-god
For some interesting statistics: http://www.raderprograms.com/causes-statistics/media-eating-disorders.html
For some indepth discussion about media and body image: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1n3d88_killing-us-softly-4_news
Also check out EDANZ for information about services in NZ for disordered eating if this is a concern for you. http://www.ed.org.nz/
And there is a plethora of other material!
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