Body Image and Sexuality Essays

Body Image and Sexuality Essays Body Image and Sexuality Paper Body Image and Sexuality Paper The first step in understanding the relationship between body image and sexuality is to understand the meaning of each. Body image is how one sees one’s own body. Despite the simple definition, there lies a complexity in the practical meaning of the word. Body satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) is influenced heavily by one’s culture: the norm of the ideal body. In the US, the ideal female body is low in fat yet curvaceous. However, in China, Ghana and Greece (Myth of Dionysius; Semiotic, 2006), the big bellies, fatness and heaviness in women are desired and related to happiness and abundance. Thus, the definition of body image is dependent on how one’s perception is influenced by his culture and surroundings. Sexuality Sexuality has a more academic definition, i. e. , the quality or state of being sexual (Sexuality, 2006). Unambiguously, it is one’s level of interest in sex. Sexuality is in most part a biological phenomenon, the interest of the female specie to the male as the opposite specie. However, there are aspects in the modern relationship that accept the fact of homosexuality. In this paper, we limit our research into the heterosexual aspect of sexuality. Two researches are being presented to show the scientific investigation conducted by professionals on the topic at hand. Research No. 1 McKay, A. of the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (2000) discusses a survey conducted by Ackard, D. M. , Kearney-Cooke, A. , Peterson, C. B. on the effect of body image and self-image on womens sexual behaviors. In March 1997, Ackard, et. al, conducted a survey entitled Does Your Body Image Affect Your Love Life? featured in Shape magazine. The response of 3,627 women age ranging from 14 to 74 years old, completed college and weighing an average of 145 lbs, was a 66. 4% satisfaction with their overall self. In spite of this, 60. 2% of them were dissatisfied with their appearance and a while 80. 5% reported some degree of satisfaction with their ability to form and maintain relationships with others. (Mckay, 2000, p. 124) The survey resulted in a direct correlation between body image and sexuality, i. e. , those satisfied with their body image, responded as having higher frequency of sex and achieving orgasm, than those that are dissatisfied with their body image. Furthermore, the intimacy and adventure level of those the ones satisfied with their body image were higher than those that were dissatisfied: greater comfort undressing in front of their partner, greater comfort having sex with the lights on, greater comfort trying new sexual activities, and greater confidence in their ability to give their partner sexual pleasure. (Mckay, 2000, p. 124) In spite of the above, Mckay (2000, p. 124) noted that Ackard, et. al, (2000) concluded that overall satisfaction is the more significant influencing factor to the respondents’ sexuality, more than body image itself. This is evidenced by the fact that the overall self-satisfaction and ability to form and maintain relations with others resulted with a higher percentage than the satisfaction of the respondents with their own appearance, which is body image. The Ackard, et. al survey however has a limited respondent base, i. e. the respondents are readers of the fitness magazine and thus maybe highly focused on body image vs. the average woman. A wider subject base is considered in the next experiment and presents a more analytical assessment of the relationship between body image and sexuality. Research No. 2 In 1998, Wiederman, M. W. and Hurst, S. R. , conducted a study with 192 young women aged 18 to 21, 89. 6% were White, 7. 8% were Black, and 2. 6% were Latina, all psychology students of Ball State University, Indiana. In this experiment, specific measures were assessed relating to body image and sexuality as follows: (1) relationship status, dating (casually or exclusively) or committed; (2) Sexual experience, actual intercourse or oral stimulation; (3) Sexual esteem or the tendency to evaluate oneself positively as a sexual partner; (5) Attitudinal acceptance of casual sex using; (6) Actual attractiveness measured by a male and a female research assistant; (7) Body mass index (BMI); (8) Body dissatisfaction; (9) Self-rated bodily attractiveness; (10) Appearance orientation on habits related to one’s appearance; and (11) Social avoidance. (Wiederman Hurst, 1998) The results were interesting. Those that are in a relationship (some level of commitment with the opposite sex) were relatively smaller, objectively more attractive, and perceived themselves as having more attractive bodies. Furthermore, slightly more women who are not committed were dissatisfied with their body image. Similarly, those without any form of sexual experience were bigger and objectively less attractive. They also had limited or no initiative to perform oral sex to a male partner. For sexual esteem, those that scored high in self-rated bodily attractiveness had higher sexual esteem and are not intimidated in social activities highlighting one’s appearance. However, for both measures, there is a higher body image dissatisfaction rate on those with high sexual experience and sexual esteem. Thus, the authors concluded that the results of the current study are not definitive. (Wiederman Hurst, 1998) Relationship The simple answer for the question at hand is no: one’s body image is not a definitive factor to determine one’s sexuality. Humans have the power to overcome unpleasant, objectively unacceptable body image to achieve a positive overall self-satisfaction. By doing so, as evidenced in the two experiments, one’s level of sexuality is heightened as well. References Body image. (n. d. ). The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from Answers. com Web site: answers. com/topic/body-image Body image. (n. d. ). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from Answers. com Web site: answers. com/topic/body-image Henderson, K. A. , Hodges, S. , Kivel, B. D. (2002). Context and Dialogue in Research on Women and Leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 34(3), 253+. Retrieved November 14, 2006, from Questia database: questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5000812878 Mckay, A. (2000). Effect of Body Image and Self-Image on Womens Sexual Behaviors. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 9(2), 124. Retrieved November 14, 2006, from Questia database: questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5001808421 Semiotics of Ideal Beauty. (n. d. ). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from Answers. com Web site: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Semiotics_of_Ideal_Beauty Sexuality. (n. d. ). Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from Answers. com Web site: answers. com/topic/sexuality Sexuality. (n. d. ). The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from Answers. com Web site: answers. com/topic/sexuality Wiederman, M. W. , Hurst, S. R. (1998). Body Size, Physical Attractiveness, and Body Image among Young Adult Women: Relationships to Sexual Experience and Sexual Esteem. The Journal of Sex Research, 35(3), 272+. Retrieved November 14, 2006, from Questia database: questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5001369622