Stop Letting Capitalism Determine Your Self-Image | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Self Love

Conceptualize Your Consciousness Instead Of Letting The Market Determine Your Self-Image

Or, how to start loving your body.

2078
Conceptualize Your Consciousness Instead Of Letting The Market Determine Your Self-Image
Sarah Cucco

In "Ways of Seeing," John Berger states, "You painted a naked woman because you enjoyed looking at her, put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting 'Vanity,' thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure."

We live in a society where women are constantly defined by the male gaze.

So much so that a woman's perception of self creates a detachment between consciousness and body, the body as an object and the self as consciousness. This structure creates a scenario in which the woman sees the body as though it is a product and not herself. Its value becomes derived from looks dependent on the trends of the market's current infatuation of women's body parts: big lips, tiny waist, small thighs, big thighs, fit, lean, curvy.

Marketing, Instagram influencers, and consumerism have made your body a thing to be controlled by the market, not you.

However, your body is you, and if you want to love yourself it means accepting your whole self and realizing your shape and size are not things that should be fluctuating with current fashion and celebrity trends. Once you recognize your body is you, it becomes easier to perceptualize it inwardly. This means instead of constantly seeing your body from an outward perspective (in terms of fashion, industry, celebrity culture, etc.), you reconnect with it by focusing inwardly: defining yourself, reconnecting with your consciousness, and making goals that fulfill you emotionally (learning a language, reading a book a day, working out, learning to draw, getting a tattoo, traveling more, etc.).

Starting to love your body unconditionally takes a lot of time to yourself, and in no way is it emotionally simple.

You must learn what is important to you before anything else and then combat the energy of the outside world's consumerist view of you. Women are expected to fulfill so many roles to cater to male fantasy, not only in terms of body-image but as emotional beings.

Maybe this is the same reason so many women seek online personality quizzes to define their inner selves.

This is a wake-up call to start moving towards loving your body unconditionally. Reconnect with yourself by connecting body to mind again, instead of separating one as a commodity and the other as you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190539
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15080
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457991
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26703
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments