Physical Appearance Essay
Obsession is a word we often attach with negative connotations. People are increasingly showing more concern about and more interest in physical appearance. No one seems to be content with what one has, even with endless cosmetics services ranging from breast enhancement to facial contouring. We are all so preoccupied with our physical appearance trying to fulfill society’s standards of beauty that we rarely step back to consider the potential health risks associated with it.
Whilst it is important to be attractive to the opposite gender, especially for women in places with males that have higher social statuses, there comes a point when we have to stop. To stop and question this dangerous hive mind mentality of conformity group thinking within
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It is within our innate evolutionary nature--to be desired and wanted in order to attract potential mates. “If you want to catch a bear, you don't load the trap with a copy of Catch-22—not unless you rub it with a considerable quantity of raw hamburger.” (Alkon, A. 2010). Being physically attractive does seem to give some people an advantage in life, for example: a study conducted in the US found that taller men earned approximately $600 per inch more than shorter co-workers of the same rank. (Fox, K. 1997).Therefore it is no surprise that physical attractiveness is of great significance for a lot of us. We have all gone out of our way to do things that we think make us more attractive. It might be something as minor as rearranging our clothes and hair, or it might be something more extensive such as undergoing cosmetic surgery. There is a fine line between a healthy habit and a possibility to turn it into an unhealthy obsessive disorder, something known as body dysmorphic disorder(Witnesses, J. 2002).Body dysmorphic disorder is when excessive preoccupation about one’s appearance causes mental health problems. They exaggerate and amplify their own flaws in their minds to such an extent that their day to day function is interfered, and they isolate themselves from social situations. If society doesn’t start sending a more positive and empowering message advocating positive body image, the
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