To what extent does the influence of social medias portrayal of body image and societal norms effect body dysmorphia and self-esteem of people in our society, and how does this differ amongst gender, race, and social class?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem: Exploring Gender, Race, and Social Class Differences
In today’s digital age, the influence of social media on body image and self-esteem cannot be underestimated. With the constant exposure to idealized images and societal norms, individuals, particularly young people, are susceptible to developing body dysmorphia and experiencing a decline in self-esteem. However, the impact of social media on body image and self-esteem varies among different genders, races, and social classes. By examining these differences, we can gain a better understanding of the complexities and nuances in how social media affects individuals in our society.
Firstly, the influence of social media on body image and self-esteem tends to be more pronounced among women compared to men. Women are often bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards on social media platforms. The prevalence of edited images, filters, and the promotion of an unattainable thin ideal can lead to body dissatisfaction and contribute to the development of body dysmorphia. This constant exposure to unattainable beauty standards can erode women’s self-esteem and perpetuate a cycle of negative body image.
Secondly, the impact of social media on body image and self-esteem also varies across different racial and ethnic groups. Studies have shown that individuals from marginalized racial groups may experience unique pressures related to beauty standards. For example, black women may face pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, such as lighter skin tones and straightened hair. On the other hand, Asian women may encounter pressure to conform to narrow ideals of thinness or specific facial features. These pressures can exacerbate body dysmorphia and have detrimental effects on self-esteem within specific racial communities.
Lastly, social class plays a role in how social media influences body image and self-esteem. Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may have limited access to resources that would allow them to conform to societal beauty norms. This disparity can lead to feelings of inadequacy and lower self-esteem when comparing oneself to those who are more privileged. Additionally, individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds may have greater exposure to influencers and celebrities who promote unattainable lifestyles and body ideals. This can create a constant cycle of comparison and negatively impact self-esteem.
While it is clear that social media has a significant impact on body image and self-esteem across various demographics, it is important to note that these effects are not uniform. Different genders, races, and social classes experience unique pressures and influences that shape their perceptions of their bodies. Understanding these differences is crucial in developing targeted interventions and promoting positive body image among diverse populations.
In conclusion, the influence of social media on body image and self-esteem is a complex issue that varies among different genders, races, and social classes. While women tend to be more affected by societal beauty standards perpetuated through social media, individuals from marginalized racial groups face unique pressures related to their specific beauty ideals. Additionally, individuals from different social classes may experience distinct challenges due to limited resources or constant exposure to unattainable lifestyles. Recognizing these differences is essential in addressing the negative impact of social media on body image and self-esteem and promoting a more inclusive and positive online environment.
