Poor beauty standards can be influenced by a variety of factors:
The media, including advertising, television shows, movies, and magazines, who often promote narrow and unrealistic beauty standards. The constant exposure to images of airbrushed models or celebrities with "perfect" appearances can create a distorted perception of beauty and contribute to body dissatisfaction.
With the rise of social media platforms, there is increased pressure to present a carefully curated image of ourselves. People often showcase their highlight reel, leading to comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. Filters and photo editing tools further contribute to unrealistic beauty standards.
The beauty and fashion industries thrive on creating and promoting products that promise to meet societal beauty standards. This focus on profit can reinforce insecurities and perpetuate the idea that individuals need to change their appearance to be deemed attractive or accepted.
Beauty standards vary across cultures and can be influenced by historical, social, and traditional factors. Cultural norms and expectations shape the perception of beauty and can contribute to unrealistic or exclusionary standards.
The opinions and judgments of peers, family, and friends can play a significant role in shaping beauty standards. Negative comments or social pressure to conform to certain ideals can lead to self-esteem issues and a desire to meet societal expectations.
Limited representation of diverse body types, races, ages, and abilities in the media and fashion industry can perpetuate narrow beauty standards. The underrepresentation of diverse beauty ideals can marginalise individuals who do not fit within these standards.
Historical beauty standards, often influenced by colonialism and racism, have played a role in shaping current beauty ideals. These standards can sustain systemic biases and inequalities, leading to exclusion and discrimination.
Physical attractiveness itself is not inherently problematic. It is a subjective and culturally influenced concept that varies across individuals and societies. However there are instances where the emphasis on physical attractiveness can lead to problematic outcomes or contribute to negative effects.
Society often promotes narrow and unrealistic beauty standards that can create pressure and insecurity for individuals who don't fit those standards. This can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and even mental health issues.
When physical attractiveness becomes the primary focus individuals can be objectified, reduced to their appearance, and valued solely for their looks. This objectification can undermine a person's value, autonomy, and worth as a whole individual.
Attractiveness bias can impact various aspects of life, including employment opportunities, social interactions, and access to resources. This bias can create unfair advantages for those deemed more attractive, whilst disadvantaging others based on their appearance.
The constant emphasis on physical attractiveness can lead individuals to internalise these standards, often negatively impacting their self-perception and self-worth. This internalisation can contribute to a cycle of unhealthy comparison and self-judgment.
Beauty standards can prolong social inequalities, reinforcing biases related to gender, race, and other identity factors. It can contribute to the marginalisation of individuals who do not fit within those dominant beauty ideals.
When physical attractiveness becomes the primary criterion for judgment or evaluation, other important qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and character can be overlooked or undervalued. This can hinder meaningful connections and relationships based on deeper qualities.
A poor self-image can impact any type of manifestation in several ways, as you may struggle to believe that you deserve the things you want to manifest. Doubts and feelings of unworthiness can hinder your ability to truly believe that you are deserving of positive outcomes. This poor self-image can lead to low self-worth and so if you don't believe in your own value and worthiness, you may unintentionally block the flow of positive manifestations.
This usually causes someone to engage in negative self-talk and have severely critical thoughts, creating an energetic environment that opposes abundance and growth. It becomes too challenging to align your thoughts and beliefs with the positive energy needed to manifest your desires. It can erode your confidence, which is essential for believing in yourself, taking risks, and seizing opportunities that may arise during the manifestation process. This resistance doubles when it comes to receiving and accepting abundance and opportunities that come your way. You may subconsciously push away or sabotage positive manifestations, because you feel unworthy or uncomfortable with receiving them.
Your self-image and beliefs about yourself can also influence the energy you emit, and the experiences you attract. If you have a poor self-image, you may inadvertently attract more negative experiences that align with your low self-worth and reinforce your limiting beliefs. Equally you may deny those experiences that you deem "too good" for someone like you. To reduce the impact of a poor self-image on manifestation, it's important to work on improving self-esteem, acceptance, and love through compassion, healing, recognition and gaining support from those who want to see you succeed.
This used to impact me greatly through my career as a teacher and even into being a parent. I always felt I had to appear or act a certain way. Have certain things in my house, certain clothes or hair for me and my children, in order to fit in, make friends etc. It’s interesting as I never felt this growing up - although I’m hyper aware my Mum did. I rebelled against all standards required of me, and now in middle age I feel I’m returning to that rebel, not for the want of being different, as I did when I was growing up. But this time for the want of becoming me. Not anyone’s version of me but my own authentic, if a little odd, self. Thank you for this post xx💗🙏🏻💗xx