Is there too much pressure on girls to have "perfect" bodies?

[Political_dude]

Yes. There is too much pressure on Women

No. There isn't much pressure Women

I don't know/ Other

[Apope16]

I think that there is more pressure by society. In reality, a guy is wiling to have sex with a fat girl and the sex can be amazing.

if we are talking about a relationship. Thats a different stories. I dated an obese woman for 2 years and I wouldn't want that again. She stopped smoking and let herself go.

Letting yourself go and just piling on weight because you feel secure in a relationship is bullshit and absolutely unacceptable! If you are a guy or a gal you need to be healthy and exercise and increase your life expectancy with the person you love.

I know what I am saying may offend people but I dont give a shit. All that should happen is you should care and try to be healthy. Sitting there and thinking you can each chocolate cake, soda, nachos, steaks, and sugar all day.. then gaining 50 pounds of weight.. then refusing to exericise because "a man should accept me as I am.." Hell no!

part of a relationship is wanting to please your partner and be attractive to them. Beauty is a part of that. It means yes, you try to live up to the same standards you did when you first started dating. yes, it means eating healthy and living healthy. That is the role of a partner.

If you don't respect yourself then you can't respect your partner.

My last ex was overweight. Then she was obese. Then I didn't say anything and she felt insecure because I was fit and slim. Then the difference between our health made her jealous of women looking at me. Then the more she got bigger the more insecure she got. She decided to work out and I gave her positive encouragement but told her she was beautiful and I loved her. But then she saw that other women at the gym would check me out. Then she got insecure about slow progress.

If you are a beautiful curvy woman. My recommendation is to get a personal trainer. If you can't do that work out alone. Do not work out with your partner! Stay focused in the gym. Dont be distracted by your partner. And view health as a year long project not something that changes over night! Obesity doesn't change the beauty of who you are. But how you address your health determines how much respect you have for yourself and your partner.

[Jameswbj1]

It'd take more convincing for me to have sex with a big girl than it would for me to have sex with a skinnier girl, I blame societal values of beauty

[Apope16]

@Jameswbj1 I think that is accurate. But I also think it is what turns people on sexually. I would say that white men generally like a really skinny girl. But black men really like curves and breasts. Black men like large breasts with a nice round butt. I am a black man and I wold prefer to have sex with a check who has nice breasts and is overweight slightly than with some skinny chic who has no breasts. Its a cultural thing I think. I just think that curves are sexy as hell.

It is actually kind of funny. What you see in society is white guys rejecting the curvy white chic. Her heart gets broken. Then she gets with a black guy with a large penis and they end up being together instead. All because black men view white women as exotic and they like a larger curvy build.

[Jameswbj1]

Ah don't get me wrong, I'll tear me up a thick girl, but I mean as in FAT girls, that's the problem, I'll take a thick girl over a skinny twig any day 😂😂😂

[Apope16]

@Jameswbj1 lol. Stop. You are being sexist!

[looneymalooney]

am i supposed to like what they want me to like? No. Here is where the discussion should end. But here are some extra thoughts:

I want to have fun while I'm on this planet and I want to enjoy what I find beautiful. Also if I'm about to have children I want them to be healthy good looking smart motherfuckers :D

If girls have nothing against me not liking them, then they can let themselves go as they please and look as they please. I don't waste time on finger pointing, so there will be no pressure from me.

[looneymalooney]

downvote for expressing your preferences and your freedom to choose. Imagine if these people would actually have power. What would they do with it?
force guys to marry girls they don't like and kill all the girls that have certain traits?

PS: can admins seriously force the down voters to actually reply, at least we can all laugh at their comments and way of thinking.

[sjoes006]

The focus shouldn't be on perfect body but healthily weight and healthy fat ratio. Excercise because it makes you healthy not for appearance. And it's fun!!

Every dimple in skin or ounce of fat in a bikini is a problem. I used to be skinny fat meaning I didn't have enough tone and still had some undesirable fat and a flat bumpy ass. Even though I was really skinny and 26.

Once I learned to activate my glutes during exercise my ass was no longer flat or bumpy and looked good in a bathing suit.

BUT the important thing is that I learned to be okay with my imperfect ass and tiny amount of healthy fat just below my naval.

My quads were over powering my glutes and messing up my running so I worked hard to fix it so I could run more efficiently. Not to look good swimming.

Your body is your body. You should treat it well and be health a trim but the pressure to have a perfect body leads to addiction and disease. Workout addiction, eating disorders and negavitely affects your ability to perform any other life function. It can become the center of your existence.

[lumos]

Yes. And of course there are similar pressures when it comes to men. However, it seems like the pressure is a lot more narrow and widespread when it comes to women.
"Women are significantly more likely than men to report body checking and avoidance, binge eating, fasting, and vomiting"
Study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696560/
And although eating disorders have a wide variety of reasons behind them, not just insecurities regarding bodies, in my experience most girls who suffer from eating disorders do so because they feel pressured to look a certain way and end up taking it to the extreme. Women are also more likely to get plastic surgery/go under the knife for cosmetic reasons. Women account for 92% of all cosmetic procedures.
What the individual person views as "pressure" is different, as seen by the answers on here. But statistics don't lie. Women, as a whole, experience more pressure to look a certain way just by taking a look at the eating disorder pandemic, as well as plastic surgery rates.

[cavmanier]

Men aren't usually trying to appear thin so they wouldn't starve themselves. Young guys tend to strive to be a combination of large or muscular to have the sexually dimorphic difference that women do in the opposite way. Well that's why I felt I was supposed to be like. I felt like women wanted body builders even though most girls weren't even attracted to that. And I bet girls perceptions are off as well. The media is pretty much fake news.

[lumos]

@cavmanier there are several different kinds of eating disorders, not just anorexia (what you described, starving). There's also bulimia which is about binge-eating and purging (vomiting, over-exercising etc). Then we have BED, binge eating disorder, which is also about binging but later on the person just feels a lack of control and guilt. Men can experience any of these eating disorders, it's just less common. It's more common for men to experience muscle dysmorphia, orthorexia and excessive exercise. And even then, the amount of men suffering from such severe body image issues to the point where it's affecting their daily lives, are significantly less common than women suffering from similar or the same issues.

[cavmanier]

I know there are more than one eating disorders lol. I was mainly trying to say men really aren't really trying to appear thin which takes away incentive to not purposely not eat so of course there's less eating disorders for men. I would broaden body image issues to self desirability issues or self worth issues, and I don't think you have a way of knowing of how common that is for guys. Guys seem to have a lot more difficulty getting dates which can shatter their perception of worth or desirability. Western culture and maybe an entire world culture of putting the burden of initiating dates on men is a huge issue for most men apparently. I haven't tried online dating, but if you do a simple youtube search of online dating, you'll see many even attractive guys describing how terrible getting a girl to talk to them is.

[Leafpool2]

Yes, that pressure nearly killed me, for two years I was eating >600 calories a day, wouldn't eat anything until 9pm and it was usually a bowl of cereal or a smoothie (on particularly extravagant days I had exactly 6 dinosaur chicken nuggets) I was already a perfectly healthy weight, full middle of the road weight, but I was always told I needed to be thinner and that shit sent me to the hospital man.

I'm back to a healthy weight (as opposed to my dramatically underweight past self) but I get all kinds of shit from my parents saying "it's a shame you got fat again after all that work" the work mind you, was starving myself to near death. And my "fat" self is again... a healthy weight for a 5'7 person, and on the low end of that and I still have a pretty weird relationship with food. This is why I don't go home anymore. Raising your kids on diet culture is only going to end poorly.

[MzAsh]

It seems that way but a lot of guys really aren’t as picky as they say. They say they want a 10 but they routinely date 5s.

[Anon-ymous1]

Oh no... we still want the 8 or 9 or 10. The ones who date the 5s do so because of low self-esteem and thinking they cannot get the hotter girl, which a lot of time is true-- they can't.

[MzAsh]

Yeah that’s understandable.

[freakyzeaky]

But how many are actually 8 - 10? The whole point of a 5 is that she is average and that means there are more 4 - 7s than actual 8 - 10s. Also what one man may think of a 5, another may see as a 7.

I also think many guys overestimate their own worth, same with women. And looks, while they matter to attraction, isn't the end all be all. For me, I will take a woman who can't keep her hands off me and is a 5, over an 8 or a 9 who is aloof and who is stiffer than a board in bed. Attitude matters so much more.

If she is completely unattractive that is one thing, not much you can do about that. However, if she isn't a perfect ideal woman in the looks department, but she rocks your world otherwise, then what is there to complain about? That she has stretch marks, some extra pounds, and she has imperfections?

That is a sure fire way to never getting laid or finding love if an average guy is expecting to bag an exceptional woman. Even if a guy upgrades himself, need to be realistic.

[Anon-ymous1]

@freakyzeaky If you say so.

[babylips14]

@freakyzeaky I agree 100%. I wouldn't date a Calvin Klein model who has nothing to offer besides his six pack.

[freakyzeaky]

@babylips14 I am not even talking about 10s either. People assume high expectations are a CK or a VS model, but for a 5 who is overweight and with some unconventional features and quirks, he or she might still need to aim lower than the super cute barista who obviously goes to the gym regularly and is has a larger than life personality.

I am not saying there are leagues, but people who have lots of options tend to have higher expectations. Attractive 8s will usually pass on a 5 or lower in the looks department because they will think they deserve more. The problem is the 5 also thinks he or she deserves more than other 5 or 6s.

[Cammy137]

I think there is pressure for both sexes. Just in different ways.

[BaileyisDarcy]

I dont feel the pressure honestly, but when I see my 7 year old sister obsessing over her makeup and trying to get skinny (she hasn't discovered the relationship between weight and food yet thank god, just exercise) i start to wonder if maybe im just the odd one out. Maybe there is this metric butt tonne of pressure tellng women to have the perfect bodies and im just somehow immune to it all.

Either way. There are people out there who think women should be perfect, and there are women listening to them.

[lilaqua]

In a way yes. I think in specific parts of the media, there is very much a type of body that influences women to look like that are entirely unattainable/unhealthy for most people for example:
most of the modelling industry - very tall, boyish figure, BMI < 16.5
victoria's secret - the same as regular models except with a more curvy body and slightly higher BMI ~ 17
instagram - very curvy, less emphasis placed on height but unrealistic bodily proportions

This can be incredibly damaging to some women who seek perfection in these areas, although it's not universal.

[Oceania]

Yeaaaah. There's a lot of expectations that we all know we can't all reach yet we still strive to achieve it. There's so much to reach that you wonder if you're good enough because you can't possibly tick each box let alone the ones that people reallly want. And then just incase you've forgotten what you need to look like some picture perfect girl is thrusted into your face and all the boys are all over so you question yourself. It feels like you're always being told what to look like or have in order to be "attractive".

[hellionthesagereborn]

No more then men, in fact probably less with all this campaigning about the "unrealistic" beauty standards women face (yet oddly enough the ones for men, like them having to be over six feet tall are still the norm). In fact according to one study men have more body image issues then women: www.theguardian.com/.../body-image-concerns-men-more-than-women

[think_logic85]

Of course there is, not only girls, but for boys as well.

Marketing campaigns are very vicious these days, they can convince you pretty good in terms of making insecure about yourself, if everybody was content with themselves more than half of the beauty products in the market would disappear rapidly.

They know when you guys watch TV, they know which sort of AD's do you guys gravitate towards more, they want you to become their consumers and would keep making sure that you keep coming back for more.

It's not easy to come out of this circle, but it's not impossible either, at the end of the day the choice is always in your hands.

[englisc]

There are more obese US adults than those who are just overweight. According to a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), in 2008, the obesity rate among adult Americans was estimated at 32.2% for men and 35.5% for women; these rates were roughly confirmed by the CDC again for 2009–2010. Then if you include obesity and overweight people, the number of adults who are overweight according to the CDC is 70.7% (2013-2014).

I think that's the real problem here, not women being expected to be slim.

[limeonni]

It depends on the individual.
It's cause of the media that has bombarbed us as a women to follow their beauty standard such as having a toned body, abs, and many others.
But for me, i just want to enjoy my life. You only live once and you should live your life with the way you want without following that beauty standards.

About 6 months ago, i went on diet. I reduce eating carbs. I used to eat vegetables, i exercise regularly and i used to do that as a lifestyle. but, those didn't work. Maybe those will work if i change my mindset. My mindset that time was i just wanted to have body like a catwalk model. That's it. And that's totally wrong at all. That's just an obsession.

So, i stop that.
I ate all i want. I ate carbs as usual i eat. And i'm happy with that. Now i just exercise regularly for my health. Not for getting a good shape.

And study has shown that most women try to get a perfect body not to attract men. But to compete with other women.

[Chiral]

Not in the way it's usually suggested, no. In advertising and dipiction in the media in general it often looks the opposite: that is, women who are overweight to the point of being clearly hampered by extraneous bulk appear to be deliberately included where all that is necessary is for a female human form to be shown, and it would have been most appropriate to choose one that worked properly. This isn't so for men. Men are not considered attractive if overweight and male clothes models are always slim.

In the UK, publicly rum health and leisure facilities like swimming pools routinely publish graphic info dipiction obese females as though this is something to which girls should aspire. Being overweight is now seen as a condition that cannot be changed as though it's an innate genetic or inherited condition.

[TripleAce]

well If I'm working hard... ya I want this lol... and to be honest.. fuck that makes me do things I would never do for a girl hahah... call me shallow if you like, maybe I am... but fuck --> just can't help it.. neither can girls though. Its deeper than just its a hot body... having a hot body makes me feel sexy too... it's a confidence boost for myself and things feel like you're on a higher frequency.. I dunno, I think this is a human flaw... our eyes but yet also a gift

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/.../...58348b5662.jpg

[Chaz269]

Of course there's pressure, on guys and girls. There are "perfect" examples of men & women on the toob, in magazines, on billboards, and even some genetic freaks walking among us.
Women take it harder than men because of evolution. We're not that far removed from a time when looks were all that women could offer, and therefore that's all that mattered. Since these girls are their mothers' daughters, and they were their mothers' daughters, some of that mentality is inherited, and some still gleaned or even trained. As more women go out and build quality lives of hard work, skill, education & training, experience & luck, each generation will be more confident in their ability to offer much more than just a pretty face & nice figure. Looks will matter less.
The reverse is true for fellas too. It's a large part of the reason for anti-feminism backlash.

[Ayer93]

Well I mean... guys just wouldn't be as attracted to a girl that's obese vs his ideal body. There's no pressure if you don't care to be attractive to the opposite sex. It's same for guys but to a lesser extent because girls are more emotional beings than physical. Are we going to apologize for what we're biologically programmed to be attracted to? No. Also, if anything it gives a good standard for a physically fit body. Rather than complain about fat shaming and "pressure," they should just have a healthy diet and workout frequently.

[art84]

I think there is pressure on girls and guys. No one has the perfect unless they are born with one or put in the work to maintain that perfect body by dieting and working out daily. If a women is overweight then of course she will feel the pressure when looking at other women who have the perfect body and feel a bit bad. I just think that the world that we live in places too much looking good. Sure it's good as far not having problems with your health later on but overdoing it to have the perfect body would be going over the limit.

[Anon-ymous1]

Not much.

There's a difference between things you can change about your body, and things you cannot. Weight *is something that anyone can change.* Period. "Ohhh but it's harrrrdddd... " Yeah, losing weight is hard, but it's possible. If someone is just tall or short or has a lot of body hair or has a disability or something literally unchangeable, that's different. The problem these days (and it's been this way for years now) is that girls seem to lump all that stuff *into the same category.* They say stuff like "some guys like thick (fat) girls" or whatever else they tell themselves. Guys don't tell themselves that, because their guy friends call them out for being out of shape. "Hey man let's go to the gym, you're gaining a few too many," or whatever. Do girls do that? Seems like they don't. So where's the pressure?

[TingaTinga]

There is, if they allow it. I've literally never been bothered by this shit, but i know a few girls who are too worried about others and very insecure people who place way too much value on looks who gets really down over this stuff and feel like shit that they can't match up to a man made image in a magazine that doesn't reflect reality.

[Logorithim]

There is way too much pressure on them, especially on younger women. Not only does it create unnecessary stress for women, but it's nowhere near as important as her personality (and not just for romantic relationships). If she has a great body, super, but she still needs a good personality.

[strangytie]

Trans women are held to a very high standard, as many people expect them all to fully transition perfectly. But I think that in the mainstream media there’s less pressure on women than there is on men. I’m told I’m beautiful if I don’t wear makeup or don’t have abs or perfect curves but I see so many of these same people telling guys they’re unhealthy or ugly for not being fit/tall. Critiquing their hair, skin, everything

[DankMemeage420]

Well maybe they wouldn't be under pressure (that's a good song) if they understood biology

[strangytie]

Maybe you wouldn’t be responding if you understood psychology and neuroscience because you’d know how complicated gender and identity can be.

[The-Three]

Don't talk about biology when you don't understand it yourself. Transwomen don't go against biology at all, their biology and psychology make them trans in the first place

[EvilAngel114]

Let’s say there’s more pressure on girls to have the perfect body than guys. I think by the general society’s standards. Hollywood has painted the picture of the perfect female body and it’s like girls are held to those standards. Apparently anything over a size 6 is plus size to Hollywood. That’s insanely ridiculous.

[Skinny_Guy]

You are wrong.

[Carley99]

Yes there is everyday we go on social media there is some women with the " Perfect body " which it's obvious that she's not natural, then the rest of society and other women. We get made fun of if we don't have the perfect hourglass body. Which is why plastics surgery us higher in women than men.