Self objectification and depression among women

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Overview of the Issue2

Objectification Theory3

Literature Review4

Discussion5

Conclusion7

References9

Self objectification and depression among women

Introduction

The increasing number of people suffering from depression draws attention towards the presence of depressive symptoms among males and females. Several researchers in the field of sociology and psychology have observed that women are more likely to get depressed than the men. There are several theories and concepts related to the presence of depression in women. Currently, a large number of people are reported to be suffered by depression. Among them, the majority of the people belong to a particular gender that is being a female (Hurt, 2007).

The depression among many people has its implications to the race, class and gender. The higher level of depression among women can be contrasted to the socially constructed causes of stress and depression. However, psychological factors play an important role in the development of depression among most women. This paper discusses the psychological and social based theory that supports the fact that women are more likely to suffer from depression than the men (Boughton & Street, 2007).

The theory identified in this case is the objectification theory that relates to the self objectification of women which causes depression in most women. Some social and environmental concepts are also discussed that provides evidence of the development of stress and depressive symptoms among the women rather than men. The paper does not identify the presence of depression among a particular group of women, but it traces the roots and causes of depression in the majority of women around the world. It focuses on the factors that lead to depression among women but these factors do not have a strong impact their male counterparts.

Overview of the Issue

Depression is a feeling of anxiety and stress among the people who have a psychological emotion which lead them to a depressed image of him or herself. There are several examples in which a person seems to be happy and content with his or her life, but inside the person, there is a feeling that he or she is not better than the other people. This image of self leads a person to strong and consistent thinking process and ultimately the person starts suffering from depression. A depressed person denies the evidences of the objectives present in his or her surroundings and the logical demonstration of things. For example, rich women may think that she is not financially stable enough to support her children. A famous and popular celebrity may feel himself as an ugly person and goes for plastic surgery of face (Lafrance, 2009).

The contradiction among the thinking of the society and the self image of a person ignites the feeling of depression in a person. It has been observed that women are more concerned about their looks and status in the society. If something goes wrong about them or they think it is not going accordingly, then they start thinking about their self image and ultimately fall into ...