Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Body Image: A Review of Obesity Etiology - Essay Sample

Introduction

This review study is a contribution to the dialectics field by assessing perceptions of the body image among various cross-cultures. The study also uncovers the etiology of the condition of obesity. The inconvenience of body image is a common concern in the United States and for the rest of the world. Perceptions related to body image are primarily subjective. Also, there exist notions about physical appearance that are specific to a culture. Obesity in America has a higher prevalence in African-American communities as well as other minority ethnic groups than in the White population. Across cultures, there is an association between habits of eating and body image. Black women are more content with their body image than women from the white community (Puraikalan, 2018).

Body image refers to the variance of betwixt the current body size of an individual and the ideals. Women compare their bodies with those of celebrities, a situation that causes negative consequences on them, for example, depression. Body image turns out to be a significant issue among people, more especially in young people entering adulthood. The media plays a role in creating dissatisfaction with one's body among this group of people. Consequently, it results in depression and other health issues (Puraikalan, 2018).

The article concludes that people must wake up to the shift of perceptions in the global context. Only a few studies have targeted the etiology related to the opinions about the body image – both negative and positive. Research focusing on all populations to determine the influence of these body image perceptions will be significant to the field of dialectics and in helping to shape attitudes. The study also noted that there needs to be conducted more research on the influence of perceptions on body image among American and Asian women (Puraikalan, 2018).

A Cross-Cultural Study of Disability in the United States and Brazil

The article is a report of a cultural study of disability carried out in Brazil and the United States. The author aimed to help develop an understanding of how social processes affect disabled people. This will help increase the participation of society in providing care to this group of people. The study made use of qualitative methods that included semi-structured dialogue and observation of the participants to undertake case studies at selected fieldwork sites of care provision. The participants included people suffering from developmental disabilities and those suffering from physical and mental disabilities (Stortz, 2011).

The study found out that cultural phenomena like gender roles, diversity intolerance, and social inequalities influenced people's experiences with disabilities. Many disabilities in Brazil are caused by common variations like inadequate or poor living conditions and infectious diseases which can be prevented. The main challenge that disabled individuals face is their strained social network created by human discomfort with their ambiguous status and liminality. Disabled people are not wholly regarded as humans. The author of the article suggests that disability awareness and education are essential in reducing the discrimination caused by disabled people. This will help them to develop an identity and function within the society just like other people (Stortz, 2011).

This research idea was developed from the researcher's visit to Santarem in Brazil. The people living with disabilities in Santarem are already benefiting from the research, through actioning of the prescriptions given. However, there is still a need to advocate for disabled people's rights so that they can be made into policies (Stortz, 2011). These policies will form a framework upon which their rights will be observed.

References

Puraikalan, Y. (2018). Obesity: Perceptions of Body Image and Obesity among Cross Culture: A Review. Obes Res Open J; 5(1): 1-4.. Retrieved 29 May 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331169329_Perceptions_of_Body_Image_and_Obesity_among_Cross_Culture_A_Review.

Stortz, E. K. (2011). A Cross Cultural Study of Disability in the United States and Brazil. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=etds