Social Pressure, Body Image, and Looks Maxing: A Christian Perspective
Last week while getting some work done at a public library, I glanced out the window and saw a small group of high-school aged girls outside, sitting on a picnic blanket, enjoying their chance to absorb the warmth of the sun. I smiled in recollection of my teen years and the times I had done the exact same thing with my friends. The steady hum of conversation about everything—yet somehow nothing really. Rubbing blades of grass between our fingers. Wishing someone had brought a water bottle.
But then something subtle and quick happened that was completely different from my experience of twenty-five years ago. Someone lifted a cell phone to take a photo of the group. And the girls synchronously tipped their chins up and to the side, flashed a sly smile, then released the pose as soon as the phone was down.
It all happened so fast, and in the moment I didn’t think much of it. But here I am days later, thinking about their simultaneous behaviour—as though they have been trained to do a trick on command. Considering that our algorithms include a bombardment of cosmetics, fashion and exercise recommendations, it is no wonder that only 4% of surveyed women feel beautiful.
I’ve been thinking about how the increased presence of photos, of social media (and even of the number of mirrors that we peer into each day) are making a mark on our minds. Moving us towards perpetual self-consciousness. Perpetual comparison. Left unchecked, the comparison leads to cultures of judgment, discontent and self-hatred. Just as concerning are the trends among young men of “looks maxing” and evaluating one’s sexual attractiveness based on things like facial symmetry and angularity. There is a growing obsession with “self-improvement”, to the point where they are smashing their jaw lines with a hammer to change bone structure.
The idea of shaping external appearance is not a new one and not even an inherently bad one. Athletes count calories, up their protein intake and target muscle groups in the hopes of being a stronger contributor on a team. For those dealing with injury, the rigours of physio can bring about greater quality of life for years to come. I just got a hair cut this afternoon, and am thinking about painting my toenails on the weekend. In large ways and small, most of us are seeking to improve ourselves to one degree or another—our health, our appearance, our clothing. It is completely appropriate and natural. Scripture affirms this physical care for the body:
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—“ (Ephesians 5:29)
As followers of Christ, the question I think we need to be asking is, “to what extent is our care about physical appearance appropriate and ordered?” By nature, humans have a tendency to take something that can be good and elevate to a place of obsession—even to a place of idolatry. In talking about these tendencies of human behaviour Romans 1:25 explains,
“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”
They worship and serve created things rather than the Creator.
They give their attention and affection to created things rather than their Creator.
They elevate the opinion of others above the opinion of their Creator.
And in so doing, they damage themselves in order to achieve some illusion of perfection.
I hope this doesn’t come across as a “feel good about yourself” message of flattery. This message of respect for your body, with a tempered philosophy of how to care for the temple that is your body without giving room for vanity, is actually a part of the gospel. Because the gospel is a message of how the kingdom of God with its values and order has invaded our world’s distorted systems. The good news includes the comfort that comes from understanding that every one of us—with our unique shapes and features—is made in the image of God.
When you look in the mirror, may you rest in the love of a Heavenly Father who delights in our variety.
This is a conversation that we need to be having amongst the people of God, in order to walk in confidence, shining our light and showing people the way of freedom. I’d love to hear from you—how have you found a way to win the war against vanity? Against insecurity or self-hatred? Against judgmentalism?