Body, Culture and Society Assignment
Introduction: Body, Culture and Society
Media representation is defined as an activity through which the media attempts to portray society's perspective and the people in various aspects. For culture and community to function effectively, the media must outline all relevant matters because it significantly influences people's thinking and mentality. The media depicts various stereotypes and myths, cautioning people against following them. Based on different media representations, certain patterns emerge, guiding how people think and assume (Singpliam, 2022). Therefore, it is crucial for the media to effectively portray accurate findings so that people are also aligned with the same. This representation shapes how individuals think and perceive the world. The current report will examine media representation of the female body within society and how individuals perceive it. The current study will explore the embodied experience of health or illness and the social constructions present. Additionally, the representation of the body within art and media will be examined in the context of social control over bodies.
Main Body
The embodiment is defined as the lived experience of the body, which includes the feelings and perceptions of people. It encompasses the cultural norms expressed by society regarding an individual's body. On the other hand, construction of the body is defined by how the body is shaped and understood by people based on various aspects, such as cultural changes, biological processes, social factors, and many other considerations, including gender, beauty, genetics, and several other aspects (Sassatelli and Ghigi, 2023). All these factors influence how people think and behave within society. In the media, different types of images related to the body have been produced.
Females, in particular, have a wide representation in the media today. This is largely because the media objectifies women's bodies and promotes narrow thinking related to sexualisation. It can negatively impact women's body image, self-esteem, and mental well-being. Through media representations, females are often treated as sex objects and perceived as inferior to males (Gerling and Spiel, 2021). Consequently, this promotes criticism of women based on their physical appearance. Many advertisements, movies, videos, music, and other forms of media highlight images of females as objects of sexual desire while also critiquing them based on their beauty or lack thereof.
Case 1: Embodiement and Body Shaming in Yoga culture
Many different types of media representation highlight the negative effects on women as individuals and their bodies. In compliance with the video featuring the yoga teacher, it was noted that she was not allowed in the yoga class because she was very healthy, while others claimed she could not perform the exercises (Ginkgo embodiment, 2025). Regardless of her body type, she worked hard and became a yoga instructor for plus-size women. This video emphasised that women are often judged based on their physical appearance. Moreover, they face significant discrimination due to such judgments. The current case particularly illustrates this, as the healthy female was excluded from yoga classes and lacked communication and interaction. Taking this positively, she worked hard and became a yoga instructor for plus-size women who face similar issues (Csordas, 2025). Women are judged based on their appearances, whether they are deemed beautiful or not. Therefore, women need to be respected in all categories, regardless of their health status.
Case 2: Intersectional Feminism and Kara Jackson’s Poem
In addition to this, another video highlighted that irrespective of the body, females are also harassed based on their caste and religion. The other video highlighted the views of Kara, who is an activist working for black feminist body embodiment. The help of a poem highlighted the major issue that women face. In addition to this, Kara also stated that the personality of the person is being represented in the media, and many people think that it is the female's choice to live like this (2019 Youth #Poet Laureate Kara Jackson Explaining #blackfeminist Embodiment & Legacy!, 2025). But people did not think that we had any options to level life in a particular way. Kara stated that we are provided with black skin, and this is not a choice, but it was provided by others. This needs you to represent it in and very negative way and portrays the black women and their personality very differently. Hence, the media representation must be done appropriately so that the overall working can be managed and the status of women within society can be improved.
Case 3: Teenage Harassment and Embodied Fear
Further, with another incident of Isabel, it was evaluated that within the teenage years, she had faced a little harassment relating to the dress she was wearing. Once, while going to the park, she and her friend saw two men rolling down the window and saying that they were wearing nice shorts (Orphanidou, Kadianaki and O’Connor, 2023). She was only 12 and was facing the issue of cat-calling harassment, and this created a very harsh effect on her mental health and well-being. Moreover, she also stated that according to the Washington Post survey, it was evaluated that 87% of the participants were facing some form of sexual harassment (Women In the Media | Isabelle Muresan | TEDxYouth@LincolnStreet, 2025). With this, she highlighted that every woman is taught to ignore this kind of behaviour of others but this is not the solution. With the further study it was also highlighted that an organisation fighting for gender equality found that around the 97% of women have been experiencing some type of the sexual harassment and also it highlighted that 14% of the students have been taught relating to the sexual harassment and was explain that in case of any harassment they should not ever report the incident (Maddamsetti, 2023). Hence, with the help of the media representation, it is clear that women are portrayed as sexual objects and different sexual harassment can be done with them. As a psychological method, it is stated that they do not have to report any such harassment to others.
Case 4: Photoshop and Unrealistic Beauty Standards
In addition to this, another video relating to the interested female bodies outlines that there is always a negative portrayal of women within the media. The statistics within the video highlighted that 44% of the women feel unattractive without wearing any makeup (Twisted Female Bodies: The Negative Portrayal of Women in Media, 2025). This simply means that the makeup is treated as a portrayal of the beauty within the woman. In case the makeup is not used, then the female is not treated as beautiful. With this video, it was also analysed that Photoshop is used to portray makes guarantees media. Many times, the real end picture of the woman is portrayed, and this impacts the functioning of the female body. The body of the female is designed according to the requirements and making them look sexy. With the help of Photoshop and other methods of making unrealistic pictures of females are displayed within society. This simply means that the actual position of the female or not outlined in the environment.
With the evaluation of these different types of articles and videos, it was evident that the media representation relating to the body of the female body is not effective and good. This is particularly because the reason that always the media portrays the image of the female negatively. Majorly, they are treated as sex objects and are also treated as less in comparison to males. Thus, with this, it can be stated that the image of the female within the society and according to the culture is very negative. Moreover, the embodied experience of the male and the country and all over the world, creates a very negative impact on the health. Dhillon and Gammage (2023) supported that this is particularly because of the reason that the health and mental state of a female are affected to a great extent. In case the females are not treated effectively, then the major impact is created on their mental health. The well-being of females is being affected negatively because they are not provided with better places within society. They have to face many different types of harassment, and it has a crucial effect on the health and well-being of women. Hence, it is very necessary for the media they represent the body effectively and beautifully so that it does not create any issues for the female. In case the media representation of the female body is done properly, then it could have been a different situation. When the media will be promoting the female and there will been then automatically the issues like sexual harassment, domestic violence, and any other kind of issue against women will be solved easily.
For this, it is also necessary that the different forms of regulations and social control bodies work on improving the media practices. When the media promotion and representation are done differently, then it will create better effects on their health and well-being of the females. Thus, it is the responsibility of all the regulatory bodies and social bodies they try to improve the media usage for promoting the health and well-being of females. It is mandatory because when better promotion of females is done on a societal basis, it will improve and enhance the working and status of females. Moreover, Cervi and Brewis (2022) argued that than is to be implementation of different legal restrictions and responsibility against the people who are treating or misbehaving with women. It is very necessary for the management of the society that the media representation must be effectively undertaken so that better working positions can be provided to women within the society. So, it is very necessary to ensure that the legal regulations are being prepared for the successful management of the status of females within the workplace. With the current scenario, it was reflected that based on the theory of equality, it is necessary that both males and females a provided with equal opportunities (Turmo Vidal et al, 2023). Firstly, within the workplace and corporate culture the females are not provided the enough opportunities for growth and development, which are being provided to male employees. Thus, it is very necessary for the legal system and other regulatory authorities they effectively try to make use of equal opportunities for every person irrespective of gender.
With the further evaluation of the different secondary sources, it was found that the female is not provided with the appropriate and correct way of working. Hence, for this, the effective type of protection must be provided to the female so that the overall working can be improved and effective working can be managed (González-Calvo and Gerdin, 2024). In case proper protection and a better environment are not provided to the female, then it will affect their overall working of them. Based on the historical and previous work, it is evaluated that females are not always treated respectfully. They are always provided with a bad image and are not treated well. This legacy continued, and in the modern era the female is not provided with better opportunities to grow and develop. All the females, whether they belong to a good family background or have low income or any other reason the females are always treated not effectively. Thus, this creates an issue relating to the state of women, and as a result of this, there is a high requirement to improve the situation of women. It is particularly necessary because females are always looked at as objects and not as human beings (Shaker and Ahmadi, 2022). Even females are working in the corporate culture, but they are not provided with equal opportunities like males. With this, it is implied that the females are not treated well within the society and the corporate culture. So, it is mandatory for the authorities and the legal bodies they effectively make provisions for the protection of females as well. In case the proper legal guidance is not provided for the protection of the female, then they will not be provided with effective rights (Grin, Bailey and Lopez, 2023). To ensure the proper working of females within the corporate culture and society, they must be provided with better services for the females within the society.
But with the evaluation of the different media it was analysed that the media constantly undertakes the compliance with type of women for the beauty standard so that it attract the other people. With the help of the current evaluation of the different videos it was evaluated that the different elements like the type of the body or the aesthetics create a social value among the people. For example when they see a thin black women then they do not like her because of the body type and colour and is advised to improve her body. But in the case they see a thin white women than they will appreciate her for her beauty. This is not effective because the media choses a particular type of the body so that it assist in attracting the other people’s attention. In addition to this other health discourses also affect the working of the people or women within the society. This is particularly due to the reason that when the health discourses are not considered then the moral judgements on the body are particularly provided. This is particularly because of the reason that the women are treated as lower than the males and as a result of this every time they are provided the advice to improve themselves. Whether be it following the fitness trend, Wellness, diet or any other aspect they are always said to improve them. This promotes the neoliberal ideology which implies that the people do not tend to have a good image of women in the society. They always see them weaker version of the society and as a result of this they are always advising them to improve themselves.
With the above secondary research and the evaluation of the videos, it is clear that women are not provided with a better position in the environment and society. This creates a huge impact on the working efficiency and the mental state of the female. Hence, it is mandatory for the authorised people they effectively try to provide an upliftment for the state of women within the society. In case proper upliftment of females is done within the society, then it will improve the overall working of the society, and as a result of this, the efficiency will be improved. Different body image issues negatively affect the body of females and can result in dissatisfaction and disorders among females (Toffoletti et al, 2025). The physical body of the female is treated, and as a result of this, it can affect her behaviour. For instance, the female is healthy, and they are being body shamed. Hence, with this body shaming, the habits of females can be affected. For instance, they love to eat, but because of the body shaming, they can reduce their eating, and as a result of this, it can affect the health of the person to a great extent. Along with this, there are many different restrictive factors as well, which can create a negative effect on the state of women. These factors include the physical safety, which is not provided to the female (Eberhardt, 2024). There are many different cases of sexual assault and related aspects which the female face within society. Also, they are restricted from having freedom of movement. There is a restriction on the freedom of movement for females, and because of this, the overall working environment is affected, and females are not provided with better working conditions. Hence, for this, the appropriate guidance must be provided to the people so that they can respect women in every aspect. For the better societal development, the appropriate respect must be provided to the female regardless of their shape, colour or any other physical aspect. Whether the female is old, young or any age, they must be provided with appropriate respect and better improvement services. Without any discrimination, all the services are provided to them so that they can also enjoy being part of society.
Conclusion
Lastly, it is concluded that effective management and embodiment of the female was not undertaken. This is particularly because of the reason that when females are disrespected than it creates a huge impact on the functioning of the society. Hence, for enhancing the working of the society, the proper respect must be provided to them, and they must be empowered with the responsibilities. The above study highlighted that different videos outlined that females are being body shamed and also being disrespected in different aspects. So, it is mandatory for people they try to improve the image of females within society. Hence, in this the media representation can help in effectively improving and empowering the state of females within the society. The reason behind this is that when the position of the female within the media is improved, then automatically the mentality of the people improves. Thus, the people will also start respecting females, and as a result of this better position will be developed for the females.
References
Books and Journals
Cervi, L. and Brewis, J., 2022. Fertility treatment and organizational discourses of the non‐reproductive female body. Gender, Work & Organization, 29(1), pp.8-27.
Csordas, T.J., 2025. Something other than its own mass: Embodiment as corporeality, animality, and materiality. Anthropological Theory, 25(1), pp.3-29.
Dhillon, T.K. and Gammage, K.L., 2023. Understanding the relationship between body image and menopause in South Asian Canadian women. Body Image, 46, pp.280-293.
Eberhardt, M., 2024. ‘You probably have a parasite’: Neoliberal risk and the discursive construction of the body in the wellness industry. Language in Society, 53(1), pp.47-69.
Gerling, K. and Spiel, K., 2021, May. A critical examination of virtual reality technology in the context of the minority body. In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-14).
González-Calvo, G. and Gerdin, G., 2024. ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’: primary school children’s visual representations and interpretations of PE teacher embodiments. Sport, Education and Society, 29(6), pp.649-666.
Grin, M., Bailey, K.A. and Lopez, K.J., 2023. exploration of the body positive movement within physical cultures taking an intersectionality approach. Thinking and Doing Intersectionality in Sociology of Sport, p.26.
Maddamsetti, J., 2023. Using body maps to understand elementary teacher candidates’ embodied understanding of care related to intersectional marginalization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Action in Teacher Education, 45(1), pp.3-21.
Orphanidou, M., Kadianaki, I. and O’Connor, C., 2023. Depression as an embodied experience: identifying the central role of the body in meaning-making and identity processes. Qualitative Health Research, 33(6), pp.509-520.
Sassatelli, R. and Ghigi, R., 2023. Body and Gender: Sociological Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons.
Shaker, R. and Ahmadi, D., 2022. Everyday embodied othering experiences of young Muslims in the Netherlands. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 48(19), pp.4567-4585.
Singpliam, P., 2022. Social media, body norms, and gendered bodies: The case study of conformity and plausible negotiation with the ideal body image. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies, pp.589-600.
Toffoletti, K., Thorpe, H., Olive, R., Pavlidis, A. and Moran, C., 2025. A feminist embodied ethics of social media use: Corporeal vulnerability and relational care practices. new media & society, 27(1), pp.43-61.
Turmo Vidal, L., Li, Y., Stojanov, M., Johansson, K.B., Tylstedt, B. and Eklund, L., 2023, February. Towards Advancing Body Maps as Research Tool for Interaction Design. In Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (pp. 1-14).
https://scalar.usc.edu/works/learn-digital-marketing/navigating-the-path-to-academic-excellence
https://latestdigitals.com/building-the-digital-world-a-look-at-the-pioneers-in-tech/
Online
Ginkgo embodiment. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://www.instagram.com/ginkgoembodiment/reel/DGUz8rlT07n/>
2019 Youth #Poet Laureate Kara Jackson Explaining #blackfeminist Embodiment & Legacy!. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyinai_DTng>
Women In the Media | Isabelle Muresan | TEDxYouth@LincolnStreet. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4L97k4Ghks>
Twisted Female Bodies: The Negative Portrayal of Women in Media. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EH2CObqLMk>
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