While television exposure and social media do not undeviatingly determine whether a person will develop an eating disorder, peer competition can (Live Science Staff). Those that are constantly involved in a person’s life unknowingly set the standards for that person’s beauty ideals; many around them feel obligated to conform to their most attractive traits. Although generally, they do not come close to the beauty displayed in entertainment. Most women compare themselves to those around them; as stated in Gender Differences in Population Versus Media Body Sizes, these authors quote, “in recent years, women’s body sizes have grown larger, while society 's standards of body shape have become thinner” (qtd in Serdar). This development has proceeded a good deal of discrimination for all body types; instead of accepting another person’s appearance, many belittle others for their eating disorders that they struggle to control. Unfortunately, these impossible goals can cause people to feel helpless and possibly worthless. When this arises, women often act as an antagonizer to regain status. A specific instance of this is seen in a woman’s tendency to judge other women based on their attire as perpetrated by the objective sexist media. Many argue that certain clothes are disrespectful to …show more content…
Professor of psychology at Ohio State University, Tracy Tylka, states “instead of seeing a decrease in objectification of women in society, there has just been an increase in the objectification of men” (qtd. in Grabmeier). The gender roles expected of men are taught explicitly and implicitly beginning at birth, and peer pressure helps reinforce them throughout a person’s life. Adolescent boys, for instance, are often taught that real men do not express emotion. As stated in Exploring Dimensions of Masculinity and Violence, "crying was identified as a marker of being a woman and weak.” (Eckman 19). Boys are trained by other boys that they must obtain strength in the body and mind, and if one does not, he cannot achieve masculinity; therefore, they are subordinated to the lower status of women. Along with this, boys are expected by their peers to participate in hobbies such as manly sports like football, smoking, drinking, and fast driving (Masculinity for Boys). These hobbies are extremely dangerous, but they are overlooked because ‘boys will be boys.’ Peer influence has led to the normalization of belligerent and hazardous actions that should not be accepted by