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3 Reasons Why Image is Such an Issue for Women

According to David Garner’s survey on Body Image in America as reported in Phychlology Today:

  • 56% of all women say they are dissatisfied with their overall appearance.
  • 84% of women report dieting
  • 14 % of women have been diagnosed with eating disorders- the majority  being underweight.
  • 1.5% of women say they vomit for weight control, yet do not feel they have an eating disorder. 3%  use laxatives for weight loss and feel that is not a concern.
  • 67% of women report that being around thin women makes them feel insecure.  45% say that models make them feel angry or resentful.

There are many reasons why beauty has such a stronghold on our hearts:

1. Beauty is an important part of the feminine heart.

The desire for beauty is not shallow or selfish; it is our reflection of the One who created us. Just as man was designed to glorify God with his strength, so was woman designed to draw others to Him with her beauty.

Unfortunately, our desire to be lovely can get the best of us if we focus on it too much. I suppose anything we give too much attention to can mess up our lives, but let’s think this through.

The desire to be strong or  successful, is encouraged by society.

The desire for beauty, on the other hand, is not as socially acceptable.

Wether we pursue strength or beauty, we may be confronted with jealousy from time to time, but seldom will we be put to shame for such desires as to do well or be strong.

2. Beauty has different social standards.

When a little girl who longs to be lovely, it’s adorable, but most of us quickly learn to mask or murder that desire because when we reveal our desire to look good, we are condemned.

Sometimes beauty is recognized without demanding attention; that embarrasses us.

Sometimes it is recognized but not respected and the assumptions about a beautiful woman can be quite crude. 

3. Beauty can be dangerous.

Men may treat your beauty as their trophy.

Women may assume your beauty is their personal threat.

When you are mistreated for your beauty, the wound cuts deep into the very core of who you are.

No wonder so many women make a conscious, or often sub-conscious, decision to HATE, HIDE or get HUNG UP on  their appearance. No wonder weight loss is not simply a diet problem!

The way you respond to the wounds beauty brings you, is a big indicator of your Img.ID:

Classic: Study the physiology of the problem, try to fix it.
Natural: See the problem as the predator’s, don’t let it affect you.
Dramatic: Keep your distance emotionally, but keep on shining anyway.
Ingénue: Feel the shame, punish yourself and / or prove your self-worth 
Romantic: Shut down, hide your body, care for everyone else while neglecting self.
Gamine: Fight. Fix the problem, pursue justice and/or work hard to move on.


Click the style to learn more about that Image Identity, including What2Wear.

To take my FREE quiz and learn your Image Identity, click here.

The bottom line is, as women, we identity ourselves with our appearance and when our beauty is under attack, we are personally under attack. The most affective approach to overcoming Image Issues is not weight loss. It is to Know Who You Are and Whose you are.

Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;

Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; 

So the King will greatly desire your beauty; 

Because He is your Lord, worship Him.     -Psalm 45:11

The statistics prove it,  there are far too many women and girls dealing with major Image Issues. As Christian women, we need to become more confident about our own beauty so that we can help those consumed by Image Issues and the destruction of low self-esteem.

I believe that understanding the power, purpose and potpourri of feminine beauty is the key to unlocking Confident Beauty, which doesn’t wear off like makeup does. If you agree, would you share this blog with the women you know? Don’t hold back because you think image is not an issue for them.

It is.

*****

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Comments

One response to “3 Reasons Why Image is Such an Issue for Women”

  1. So glad your are back! Thank you for this message. It came right on time for me.

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