Warped perceptions about how to look or how much to weigh?

[Anonymous]

Hollywood has a lot to do with the way people look at their bodies. Everyone ( or mostly everyone, especially teenage girls) strive to be a certain weight or to look a certain way. Hollywood has this "ideal" look that some people are just trying to reach. The term "plus sized" also, in my opinion, not used correctly. Expectations have changed a lot since the "beginning" of Hollywood. My question is why are our perceptions so warped on how to look or how much to weigh?

Updates

+1 y

How many girls do you see that look like Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, or Jessica Alba? Not many. It's because Hollywood retouches and makes them perfect when they really aren't.

[Red_Raconteur]

It's kind of a cyclical thing. Hollywood says "skinny tanned blond girls with big boobs are hot". Then boys see these girls and say "I like skinny tanned blond girls with big boobs", which makes girls want to become skinny tanned blondes with big boobs. Because that's what girls start to want, Hollywood shows that in order to produce "role models" for these girls.

While the ideals are very often warped perceptions of the reality for most girls, know it isn't the be all end all for most guys. My one guy friend will openly say that he finds skinny tanned blond girls with big boobs the hottest. However, his most recent ex is a skinny black girl with black hair and small boobs. The girl he dated before her is a curvy pale brunette with big boobs. A slew of other factors will cause most guys to date girls who do not meet their ideal, which includes coming to terms with reality.

[Musical546]

i kinda think so... media influences people immensely. also hollywood movie stars are role models for girls and possibly even guys. tall, blond, flirty is the general stereotype for girls. dark, ripped etc for guys xD. but that never really happens in real life.

as for the manipulating I personally know how much you can change through photo retouching and editing- if you wanted to you could change boob size like no other, or make someone drop 20 pounds with the click of a mouse. nothing is real anymore.

[TimB -1-2-3]

But ARE they warped?

Does it go hollywood -> physical attractiveness, or physical attractiveness -> hollywood?

Does hollywood provide us with perceptions we ought to strive for?

Or does hollywood cater to us with perceptions that are in some way inherently attractive to us?

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[TimB -1-2-3]

"How many girls do you see that look like Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, or Jessica Alba? Not many."

So what's the problem then?

[kheserthorpe]

Peoples peer groups matter more. And unfortunately, for much of the west, people are getting an idea that being more and more overweight is normal and fine.

There is a massive, massive problem with bodies in the west, and that problem is that people are way too fat.

[Anonymous]

Health can be measure in lbs/kg. Measurements are the only way to go, and yes while being "plus sized" aren't always a sign of poor health, but being obese is unhealthy and can almost always be fixed with a better diet and some light exercise. But yes the so called ideal are not necessarily what I'd consider healthy either. It's also quite hurtful for kids growing up, since selfesteem are heavily linked to the extrerior. Too much bodyfat is bad, and so is too little.

[Dimonik]

Hollywood isn't that far from how women look here in scandinavia tbh. Well the most attractive ones at least... Less surgery done here tho... :p