While reading Chapter 5 [The Self] in the text, the section Body Image caught my attention. Some things the section talks about are how consumers view themselves physically, ideals of beauty, and cosmetic surgery. The sections talk about the popular saying "You can't judge a book by its cover" but that is what our society does. Research and studies have shown that physical appearance can affect how much a person will make and that generally "those who are below average in appearance make an average of 9 percent less than the norm." (Solomon, pg. 192) Studies have also come up with what makes a face aesthetically pleasing to look at. Such things as facial symmetry, distance between eyes, cheek bone location on females and jaw line on males all contribute to a "pretty face".
Today, cosmetic surgery is quite common which has raised society's standard of what makes someone beautiful. People are able to alter or enhance the way they look if they have the money, however, most cannot afford such cosmetic changes. While reading chapter 5, I remembered an article I read a few months ago. It is about a girl, Nadia, who was bullied by kids at school for having big ears that stuck out and how it got so bad that she would do just about anything to avoid going to school. Her mom found Little Baby Face Foundation which provides financial assistance to families seeking plastic surgery to fix facial deformities in children. Nadia had her ears, nose and chin altered at no cost. It was life changing for her and has provided her with the confidence and self esteem she previously lacked.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/08/09/bullied-14-year-old-girl-gets-plastic-surgery-to-fix-ears-nose-chin/
It is amazing how young of an age body image becomes important and how it can have a lasting effect throughout a persons life and career.
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