The Effect of Societal Standards of Beauty and Love on Emotional, Physical and Mental Health
Overview
This paper analyzes how modern societal standards regarding beauty and love negatively impact individuals' emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. The author examines beauty standards imposed on both men and women, the role of body positivity, and how social norms constrain authentic love and relationships, while exploring the scientific foundations of love through neurochemical and biological perspectives.
What this essay covers
- Introduction discussing unrealistic beauty and love standards as societal plague affecting self-perception and adequacy
- Body positivity concept and challenges of ignoring digital age beauty ideals and social relationship norms
- Love as a scientific physical need examining neurochemical basis of love, attachment, attraction, and lust
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In modern society, unrealistic beauty and love standards can be likened to a plague. The world is filled with expectations of how women should look and behave. Societal definitions of beauty standards usually confine both men and women. Social norms dictate that men need to be tall on average, have a six-pack, and have broad shoulders. For women are required to be thin, have curves, and have a slim waist. These requirements usually make people feel inadequate, especially when they compare themselves to their peers or society's beauty requirements. Noteworthy, none of these requirements are words that one should adhere to or embedded on stone. It can be a tough venture, but ignoring how society requires one to look is important. This can be achieved by having confidence in oneself and one’s abilities.
Body positivity is rooted in the notion of accepting and loving one's body. It can be a major challenge to ignore the perfect body shapes and types outlined by the digital age. Social norms are also an issue when it comes to love as they assume that what will work out for one person will work out for another. Toletino (80, par. 1) argued that “…it is a meaningful project to make sure that everyone can become, and feel, increasingly beautiful.” The perception has been forced by how individuals expect other to behave or appear.