PHYSICAL SELF

CHAPTER II : UNPACKING THE SELF

A. THE PHYSICAL SELF
OVERVIEW

 This module tackles on the Physical aspect of the Self. It

presents the impact of the bodily parts on the development
of the physical self and its effect on body image and self-
esteem. There is no concrete definition as to who is
beautiful, hence, every part of the world has its own
concept of what beauty is like a tattooed face, full-figure,
long neck, or even a lotus feet.
OVERVIEW

 This recent times, much of what people consider as

beautiful is all because of the influence of media, the
glassy fair even-toned skin splashed on giant billboards,
the washboard abs of men seen on the pages of magazines
and the long and slender frame of women on television
commercials become a basis of a beautiful physical self-
nowadays.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Identify and reflect on the different forces and institutions that impact
the development of the physical self.
2. Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in integrating the various
aspects of self and identity.
3. Understand the different cultural perspective about beauty.
4. Recognize the role of media on the understanding of beauty and self-
esteem and its influence on body image satisfaction.
5. Appreciate one’s physical beauty.
THE SELF AS IMPACTED BY THE BODY
 
Physical Self refers to the body, this marvelous container and
complex, finely tuned, machine with which we interface with our
environment and fellow beings. The Physical Self is the concrete
dimension, the tangible aspect of the person that can be directly
observed and examined.
THE SELF AS IMPACTED BY THE BODY
 

The physical self is defined by the physical characteristics that are

visible. These characteristics are the defining traits and features of the
body. Sex, height, weight, complexion, hair and facial features are
among the common, physical features identified when one is asked to
describe another person. One’s gender is first mentioned, whether one
is a male or female, then he or she is described to be either tall, short,
or average in terms of height.
THE SELF AS IMPACTED BY THE BODY
 

 A person can either be thin, fat or average and light, dark, fair or
anything in between in terms of complexion. One can have a brown,
black or blonde hair which can either be long, short , straight, curly,
frizzy or he or she may even be bald. One’s nose can either be flat
or pointed; one’s eyes can be almond-shaped, hooded, deep-set,
round, downturned or chinky.
THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON BODY IMAGE AND
BEAUTY

 The cultural implications of beauty are prominent in every culture

and have a strong influence on the way men and women are
perceived. Across the world, different cultural perceptions uphold
an ideal of beauty that is linked to sexual appeal and social status.
The purpose of beauty is the feeling and consequences from being
beautiful. In ancient cultures, according to Julian Robinson, "the
enhancement and beautifying of the human form by various means
appeared to be an inborn human trait-an essential part of our genetic
makeup and an expression of our psyche."
THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON BODY IMAGE AND
BEAUTY

Both genders are aware of the societal need to embellish them, in

order achieve something that is closer to the ideal. People have
endured some sort of process to beautify ourselves, and in each culture
the process varies. Robinson makes a valid point, that "human beauty
is an expression of this inventive and aesthetic nature, a reflection of
our inner sprit, a biological imperative sculpted into our soul by some
seemingly godlike life force, about which we can do little except
accept its reality and validity."
THE CONCEPT OF BEAUTY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

 "Beauty is not one's

own, but a reflection of
one's culture."
THE CONCEPT OF BEAUTY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

 Across the globe, few people have difficulty recognizing someone

who is considered beautiful. Beauty is often sought after, revered,
and sometimes interpreted as a personal virtue. Standards of beauty
are usually social markers determining cultural status, social
acceptance and suitability as a mate. However, beauty remains an
elusive notion. Scientists continue to study the biological and
anthropological factors behind physical attractiveness, while
advertisers continue to employ ideals of beauty to sell products.
THE CONCEPT OF BEAUTY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

 Countless people continue their quests to become or remain

beautiful to receive the benefits society offers for beauty. A physical
aesthetic has remained constant over time throughout the diverse
cultures of the world. In this sense, beauty has been regarded as a
reflection of health, vitality, sexual allure and social appeal.
Although the specifics of what makes someone beautiful can differ
across countries, cultures and communities, the concept of beauty
has existed for as long as there have been people.
THE CONCEPT OF BEAUTY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

 In the Philippines, we see our standard of beauty everywhere, in

magazines, televisions and billboard ads. Just as we have a unique
cultural perception of beauty, so do other cultures and peoples.
1. FACE TATTOOS
2. DECORATED SKIN
3. LONG EARLOBES
4. LONG NECKS
5. PALE SKIN
6. FULL FIGURES
7. BODY SCARS
8. LIP PLATES
9. FOOR BINGING
10. MONOBROWS
 FACE TATTOOS
Tattooing the chin and lips of Māori women of New Zealand is
considered beautiful. Tattooing the chin and lips of Māori women of New
Zealand is considered beautiful. This tradition has been around for
centuries, and consists of patterns called Ta-Mako in black or dark blue
ink on the woman’s face. Ta-Mako tattoos are also a public declaration of
one’s membership in the Māori tribe. This tradition has been around for
centuries, and consists of patterns called Ta-Mako in black or dark blue
ink on the woman’s face. Ta-Mako tattoos are also a public declaration of
one’s membership in the Māori tribe
DECORATED SKIN

 Instead of accessorizing with extravagant jewelry, women in India

turn to nose rings, bindis and henna to make themselves more
attractive for festivals and celebrations, like weddings. Brides in
particular will often wear a dot of red powder on the face known as
akumkum to look more beautiful.
 LONG EARLOBES

 To the Masai tribe of Kenya, long, stretched earlobes are the ideal
for both men and women. They are known to shave their heads and
use everything from elephant tusks to twigs to pierce and stretch
their lobes to become more attractive
LONG NECKS

 Long, giraffe-like necks are the ultimate sign of beauty and female
elegance to the Kayan tribe. At 5 years old, Kayan women start
priming their necks with heavy brass rings. Each year, more coils
are added, pushing down their shoulders and creating the effect of a
longer neck. The rings in this centuries-old ritual can weigh up the
22 pounds.
 PALE SKINS

 Women in many Asian countries avoid the sun at all costs simply because
pale skin is the ultimate sign of beauty and desirability. Contrary to
Western culture, where ladies are keen to get a tan during the summer, tan
is the least popular color – especially in Korea. This is why a lot of women
can be spotted wearing hats with abnormally large visors that can protect
their entire faces from the sun.  Apart from covering their faces, Korean
women cover their bodies from head to toe, too – even in the hottest
months, in order to keep their skin from tanning. Skin-whitening creams
are also a major hit in this country, and women tend to spend a great deal
of money on such skincare products that can result in an even paler
complexion
FULL FIGURES
 In Mauritania, females with full figures are considered incredibly
beautiful, and think women are considered physically undesirable.
Mauritanian parents will even send their girls to “Fat camps,” where
the girls would eat up to 16,000 calories a day to prepare for
marriage. On top of that, stretch marks are considered a bonus, and
even more beautiful.
 BODY SCARS
  Scarification of the body is a practice, specifically among
populations with dark skin too dark to show tattoos. The Karo tribe
of Ethiopia scar men and women’s torsos and chests to assert social
status. Men’s scars mark the number of enemies killed in battles,
while women’s scars represent sensuality and appeal. Although less
practiced today, some indigenous groups with little contact with the
modern world continue these kinds of beauty rituals
LIP PLATES
Suri people of Ethiopia find beauty represented in women’s lip plates.
When a girl reaches puberty, her bottom teeth are removed to make
way for a piercing in the lower lip. Once the piercing is in place, the lip
is stretched around a clay plate. When it is time to find a husband, this
lip plate guides the dowry process. Plates are seen as both a sign of
beauty and a measure of a woman’s value in cattle. Larger plates signal
a more valuable and desired woman.
 FOOT BINDING
 Despite being ban in the 1940’s, foot binding was a huge part of
Chinese culture. The process of foot binding included breaking all
of the toes and bending them backwards against of the sole of the
foot, and then binding them in place with a tight fabric wrapping.
The result was small and petite feet which is considered highly
attractive in China
MONOBROWS
 While Filipino women always want their brows to be on fleek by
plucking or shaving, the women of Tajikistan embrace their natural
eyebrows, and will even draw on them to make it appear that they
have a monobrow. I guess monobrows are in style in Tajikistan.
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON THE ADOLESCENT’S
UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY

Today's young people are bombarded by thousands of advertising

messages a day. These come not only via television and magazines but
also websites, blogs, social media, music videos, films, and even
smartphones.
The way that people are portrayed in this advertising – both the words
and the pictures – has a big impact on the way adolescents view
themselves and who they aspire to be.
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON THE ADOLESCENT’S
UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY

The mass media play a critical role in people’s self‐image by informing and
reflecting what people consider to be beautiful or attractive. One of the ways in
which they do so is through the common use of very thin and attractive models in
print and other media, often termed the ‘thin ideal’, which communicate the way that
people believe they should look in order to be attractive and desirable to others.
There are different aspects of appearance about which the media can convey beauty
ideals, including hair, skin, and facial features.
The media has increasingly become a platform that reinforces cultural beliefs and
projects strong views on how we should look, that we as individuals often
unknowingly or knowingly validate and perpetuate.
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON THE ADOLESCENT’S
UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY

 The more we look at perfect images of others and then look to find those same
idealized characteristics in ourselves and don’t find them, the worse we feel about
ourselves. It’s a cycle that breeds discontent. With such strong societal scrutiny,
it’s easy to see how the focus on how we look can slide into the dark side –
negative body image. Body image is a multidimensional construct that refers to
one’s perception of and attitudes about the size and shape of one’s body.
 It has both a perceptual component that refers to how we see our body size,
shape, weight, physical characteristics, performance, and movement, and an
evaluative component, which refers to how we feel about these attributes and how
those feelings influence our behaviors.
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON THE ADOLESCENT’S
UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY

 Body dissatisfaction is experienced when one perceives that their body falls short
of the societal ideal in terms of size and/or shape, regardless of a person’s
objective size or shape. In other words, body dissatisfaction is influenced not only
by how we interpret societal ideals, but by how we perceive ourselves. Therefore,
body dissatisfaction and perceptions of beauty are inextricably linked. Body
dissatisfaction is the number one risk factor for a number of unhealthy behaviors,
including eating disorders and chronic dieting. 

The connection between images of women in the

media and
low self-esteem in girls
 
Constant reinforcement of the “perfect” woman in the media directly impacts girls’
body confidence.  Body ImageOpens in new window🔗 research found that
looking at magazines for just 60 minutes lowers self-esteem in over
80% of girls
 
BODY IMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM

Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth — and how much
you feel other people value you. It is how you value and respect yourself as a
person. Self-esteem affects how you take care of yourself, emotionally,
physically and spiritually.
Body image is how you view your physical self — including whether you
feel you are attractive and whether others like your looks. 
Body image and self-esteem directly influence one another. When you have
healthy body image, you feel comfortable about your body and know how to
care for it.
 
BODY IMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM

 Body image is an increasingly important topic in this day and age.

Today’s society displays immense pressures to be thin, fit, and
beautiful. Images of waif-like models are splashed across television
and theater screens and in magazines, sending a message that
success, happiness, and belonging only come with unattainable
beauty. The constant measures of thinness and beauty lead people to
scrutinize their own appearance as well as those around them,
usually resulting in viewing their own bodies harsher than reality.
 How people view themselves, or their body image, can vastly
affect their self-esteem, or overall feeling of worth. According to Jung
and Lee (2006), the lower or more negative one’s body image, the
lower his or her self-esteem. In addition, the more optimistically one
feels about his or her appearance, the more optimistically he or she will
feel about him or herself overall.

An interesting component of body image is that studies show

peoples’ image of their body is not a reflection of their actual weight,
but instead how they perceive their body as a whole It is this
perception of appearance that leads to their body image, and
subsequently, their self-esteem. In addition, there is often incongruence
between one’s perceptions of his or her body and his or her ideal
figure. The greater the incongruence, the more likely a person is to
have lower self-esteem.
How do I know if I have a healthy body image and
self-esteem?
 You see and think of yourself as a whole person, not a collection of specific body
parts.
 You accept and celebrate the uniqueness of your natural body shape and size.
 You understand that a person’s physical appearance says very little about their
character and value as a person.
 You feel comfortable and confident in your body, and avoid worrying about food,
weight, and counting calories.
 
It’s important to remember that each body is unique. Everyone’s family background and
environment influence their size and weight differently. There’s no such thing as a “one
size fits all” body type that’s right for everyone.

When you feel good about yourself and who you are, you stand tall and
naturally carry yourself with a sense of confidence and self-acceptance that
makes you beautiful and attractive regardless of your weight, size, or shape.

 
Here are a few other things that you can try to increase your self-
esteem:

 Make a list of the stuff you’re good at. It can be anything from drawing or
singing to playing a sport or telling a good joke. If you’re having trouble with
your list, ask your mom or dad to help you with it. Then add a few things to the
list that you’d like to be good at. Your mom or dad can help you plan a way to
work on those skills or talents.
 
 Give yourself three compliments every day. Don’t just say, “I’m so great.” Be
specific about something good about yourself, like, “I was a good friend to Jill
today” or “I did better on that test than I thought I would.” While you’re at it,
before you go to bed every night, list three things in your day that really made
you happy or that you feel thankful for.
 Remember that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color
it is. If you are worried about your weight or size, you can check with your doctor
to make sure you’re healthy. Remind yourself of things about your body that are
cool, like, “My legs are strong and I can skate really well.”
 
 Remember that there are things about yourself you can’t change. You should
accept and love these things — such as skin color and shoe size — because they
are part of you.

 When you hear negative comments in your head, tell yourself to stop. Remind
yourself of things you’re good at and if you can’t think of anything, ask someone
else! You can also learn a new skill (for example, calligraphy, dance, a musical
instrument) so you can feel good about that!