Why Women Feel Bad About Their Appearance

Society’s ideas about what is beautiful can have a subtle but powerful effect on our minds, especially on women. Studies show that women are more prone to underrating their physical attractiveness compared to men, potentially indicating a greater susceptibility to cultural beauty ideals. This could be attributed to the disproportionate scrutiny and judgment placed upon women’s bodies in society. However, numerous factors contribute to why women may view their appearance in a more negative light than men. Continue reading to explore the various reasons behind this phenomenon.

Self-Esteem vs. Body Image

Until recently, scientists assumed that women naturally had less confidence than men. Surveys in the past were indicative of men having higher self-esteem than women. But a 2011 study from the University of Basel showed an evidence gap in this previous study. This new study, which surveyed 7,100 young adults revealed that women have just as much self-esteem as men.

Still, despite having a good sense of self-esteem, studies show that women generally do not feel as good about their appearance. Apparently, this could be due to concerns about body image. Despite both genders experiencing dissatisfaction with their bodies, research suggests that women tend to be more dissatisfied than men, particularly with regard to weight issues. In fact, the majority of female dissatisfaction is focused on feeling “being too fat.”

These concerns about being overweight are likely to stay in the minds of women for two very impactful reasons. The first is that weight and the risk of obesity are becoming a global epidemic as years pass. The second reason is that the concept of weight and being slender becomes more relevant as women enter the professional world and adulthood in general, as studies show that being slender is closely related to being seen as more professional.