Body Image and Body Consciousness in the Modern World: Eating Disorders and other Self-Sabotage CONSTANCE TIPIS

BODY IMAGE Definition: The subjective picture or mental image of one's own body Emanates from: Different socialization agents, which mold an individual’s perception of their body

Cultural context defines the “ideal body image”

IDEAL BODY IMAGE

IDEAL BODY IMAGE

IDEAL BODY IMAGE Dynamicity of the ideal body image Pervasive need to conform to the ideal body image Inability to conform to the ideal body image triggers self-sabotaging behaviors

Change in Kenya’s “ideal body image” KENYAN CONTEXT Change in Kenya’s “ideal body image” Key factors responsible for the change: Globalization Media

Need to conform to a global culture that is superficial GLOBALIZATION The global village: Enmeshment of the different cultures Global culture of vanity: Need to conform to a global culture that is superficial VANITY is the in thing…

MEDIA Unsuspecting consumers of the media Social media blurring the lines further Significant interest in how adolescents consume social media Swimsuit studies: Dr. Walsh, “Girls are not comparing themselves to media ideals as much as one would expect, but they are making micro- comparisons to their peers”

SELF-SABOTAGE- EATING DISORDERS Increased prevalence of self-sabotage behaviors globally E.g. eating disorders Prevalence rates in Western countries for anorexia nervosa ranged from 0.1% to 5.7% in female subjects. Prevalence rates for bulimia nervosa ranged from 0% to 2.1% in males and from 0.3% to 7.3% in female subjects in Western countries. Prevalence rates in non-Western countries for bulimia nervosa ranged from 0.46% to 3.2% in female subjects” (Makino et. al., 2004) Kenya: Few studies e.g. Afzan Tharani’s study on investigating the prevalence of eating disorders among adolescent females being impacted by Western socio-cultural and media influences.

Critical developmental period ADOLESCENCE Critical developmental period Vulnerable population, highly impressionable Struggle with self-expression

CAN EXPRESSIVE ARTS BE THE ANSWER? YES

POSITIVE BODY CONSCIOUSNESS Shift to positive body consciousness: Self-acceptance Holistic wellness- body and mind

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