There is a distinct difference in the way men and women view their bodies. Men see their bodies as functional, what their bodies can do, and the tasks they can perform. Women, on the other hand, see their bodies as ornamental, how attractive they look, and to what degree their body conforms to the cultural ideals of beauty. Men focus on function. Women focus on form. In general, men don’t see themselves as fat until their body size gets in the way of something they want to do. As you may know, women think they are fat if they don’t measure up to the media images with which we are bombarded daily. Seeing themselves as ornaments, it’s hard not to feel inadequate.

 

Powerful statement

“I hate my body”, I hear so many women say. That’s a strong and powerful statement. Often it translates into “I hate myself. I’m not acceptable. I’m not lovable.” There is often a profound sense of despair that envelops women when they compare their body with those of other women. They compare, they criticise and come up short. To be free of those body image comparisons and expectations, here’s a little quiz. See if you answer yes to any of the following:

• I avoid parties or other social situations because of my body size.

• I have not applied for a new job because I’m afraid I will be judged by my size rather than my abilities.

• I don’t wear shorts or sleeveless tops in the summer even though I get uncomfortably hot.

• I don’t go swimming because I don’t want to be seen in a bathing suit.

• I don’t have sex as often as my partner would like because I don’t want my body seen or touched.

This list could go on and on.

So how can we feel better about our bodies? How can we develop body acceptance? You can start by learning a lesson from the men in your lives. You can focus on function rather than just on form. Everything you do should be in service of becoming stronger and healthier in mind, body, and spirit. (Perchance, if you become more attractive as a by-product of those efforts, well then that’s icing on the proverbial cake!)

When you eat, are your food choices promoting strong bones and sharp minds? Are you getting enough sleep to restore your bodies and brains? Or do you abuse your body with inadequate amounts of nutrition and not enough restorative sleep? And speaking of function, bodies were made to move. Regular exercise builds healthy bones, turns fat into muscle, and sends endorphins coursing through our brains. By the way, if you must know, there is always something very attractive about a well-fed, we

 

women; bodies; hate