ABSTRACT
Women are far more likely than men to be concerned about their body image, and this preoccupation begins early. Cultural and media stereotypes of physical attractiveness place pressure on women to conform to unattainable standards of shape and size, and help to link acceptability and worth with appearance. Self objecti®cation theory (Fredrickson and Roberts, 1997) suggests that because society treats women's bodies as objects, women grow up with an observer perspective based on how they appear to the male gaze. This perspective becomes internalised and so women are more likely to view their bodies in this objecti®ed way, their value de®ned by how they appear to others. Conditions which bring a negative change in appearance are therefore likely to have a greater impact on women than on men.
