It usually seems that only girls are affected more prominently by the media in the United States. This is perpetuated by a fixation on youth and good looks. However, all age groups are affected by these visual projections, including women and men. Awareness of body image and what is considered beautiful has been shaped over the centuries. Culture is key in terms of what that image appears to be and what is sought. As an illustration, study the foot binding that occurred throughout China. “Walking with bound feet required bending the knees slightly and swaying to maintain proper movement and balance, a gentle walk that was considered erotic even by men.” (Janell Carroll) In Western culture the idea that this practice is considered beautiful erotic body modification for men is relatively bizarre. Seeing these women often unable to walk indicates that people are willing to make heavy sacrifices to appeal to society's mores. Another example is the neck rings worn in Thailand. The custom of wearing rings around the neck is linked to an ideal of beauty: the elongated neck. (Andrew Harding) Once again it may give Americans the impression that these civilizations are backward due to self-centeredness. Egocentrism occurs when one's home culture appears to be correct and the beliefs of others are incorrect. Rather, it is deemed desirable by a culture and spreads throughout it. It could be argued that the recognition of beauty or “good genes” is simply biological. Indeed it is biological, but culture also plays a substantial role in its perception. As humans, one way we learn is through observational learning. Which means seeing others act in a certain way and repeating their actions. This… middle of paper… stays under the radar are male eating disorders. I am convinced that these conditions are a social and cultural creation. In fact, 1 in 10 cases of these disorders involve males. www.anad.org Most men with eating disorders belong to the LBGT community. Among men who struggle with eating disorders, about 42 percent identify as gay or bisexual. This proves my point that it comes from what the media portrays and promotes socially. The media affects all of us, not just a specific group. To change their ways we need to make it known that we have a problem with this. Otherwise, as long as the money keeps coming, it will stay the same. Men are left out of this conversation too often and we need to realize that this hurts them too. I am in no way trying to make the system perfect, but simply pointing out that it needs to be more realistic.