Critically Evaluate the Relationship Between Gender, Body Image and Health.

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Critically evaluate the relationship between gender, body image and health. Gender, body image, and health are three concepts which affect each other. When it comes to an individuals health and body image, the gender which they are plays one of the largest factors. This is not only due to the fact that biologically men and women possess different characteristics, but also because of the different characteristics both men and women are socialised into having. In order to understand the relationship which exisits between gender body image and health, it is of great importance to have knowledge of what each concept actually means. Over the years the definition of health has greatly evolved and today health has a lot more meaning than it ever has. The meaning of health as defined by the World Health Organisiation ‘is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ In order to have a full understanding of the meaning of health, illness must factor. Although two completely different concepts, health and illness are difficult variables to explain exclusive of one another. An illness ‘refers to period of sickness affecting the body or mind’ and is a more subjective concept than that of disease which is an abnormality in function or structure of any part, process or system of the body.’ Health is therefore seen medically as the absence of a disease, while sociologically is seen as the absense of an illness. Busfield establishes in “Managing Madness: Changing Ideas and Practices” ‘The notion of disease itself refers to a process that unfolds and develops within the individual and what the individual does is the prime subject of medical interest and endeavour, rather than the individuals relationship with others or the environment vice-versa..’ (Managing Mafness: Changing ideas and practices . Busfield,
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