When exploring the issue of female body image and social expectations, cultural factors play an important role. Through a dialogue with BeiBei, a Chinese woman working in New Zealand, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of this issue from a cross-cultural perspective. The paper will focus on the following themes: self-perception and social commentary, traditional culture and social expectations, individual choices and inner shackles.
The interviewee’s profile.
Name: BeiBei Job: Social Work, University of New Zealand
Age: 35 (born in 1988)
Nationality: Chinese
Professional background: Psychology
Reason for interview: She has been studying abroad since the age of 15, returned to China at the age of 28, and returned to New Zealand at the age of 34 to work. She herself has been influenced by multiple cultures and is in the process of healing herself while studying psychology.
- Self-awareness and Social Commentary
BeiBei emphasised the importance of inner strength. She believes that you must be strong enough inside to be yourself, and you must not be afraid of what others may say about you. This is because social comments and labels can create a great deal of psychological pressure on individuals, which can affect their self-perception and self-expression. For my project, this means that while pushing women to have a more positive view of body image, I also need to focus on the psychological aspect. Should I include a mental health component in my project to help women better cope with social pressure and self-perception?
- Traditional Culture and Social Expectations
BeiBei mentioned that in traditional Chinese thinking, women are given multiple roles such as mothers, daughters and wives, and often need to hide their true selves. However, in a matriarchal society like New Zealand, women have more voice and social status. This is a reminder that cultural background can greatly influence social expectations and female self-perception. In my project, is it possible to demonstrate the diversity of female body image in different cultures through cross-cultural examples?
- Individual Choice and Inner Shackles
BeiBei mentions that the shackles society puts on a person are far less important than the shackles they put on themselves. This means that even in a relatively tolerant and free social environment, an individual’s inner shackles may still be the biggest obstacle limiting his or her free expression. This finding suggests to me that while promoting social change, I need to focus on psychological change at the individual level as well. Should I include some psychological support or psycho-educational elements in my project to help individuals break free from their inner chains?
Through the dialogue with BeiBei, we were not only able to understand the issue of female body image and social expectations from a new, cross-cultural perspective, but also provided new thoughts and insights for my project. As an activist, I need to integrate multiple cultural, psychological and social dimensions in order to achieve a more comprehensive and in-depth social impact.
On the path of pursuing a more open and diversified concept of female body image, every exploration and reflection is valuable. I hope that through my project, I can sow the seeds of freedom and acceptance in more people’s hearts.
BeiBei’s comments and Inspiration on “The Box” project
Comment
According to BeiBei, “The Box” project touches on sensitive topics that are rarely discussed openly in Chinese society, especially those related to women’s bodies and physical nudity. She makes two important points: 1) In China’s social media environment, negative comments and social pressures often make people hesitant to express themselves. 2) Innovation and challenging traditions often require a lack of creativity. Secondly, innovation and challenging traditions often require a certain level of “sacrifice”, i.e. the courage to face possible social pressure and criticism.
BeiBei’s perspective provides a unique insight into how the Chinese cultural and social environment influences women’s body image and self-expression. Her perspective also reflects a complex but important fact: change is a slow and complex process that takes time and effort.
Inspiration
Social pressures and personal choices: It is important to consider social pressures and personal psychological factors when designing interventions or communication strategies. Not everyone is prepared to face negative evaluations or social pressures.
Diversity and inclusiveness: When promoting social change, there is a need to recognise that not everyone will or is willing to accept new ideas immediately. Therefore, extension activities and education should be as inclusive of diversity as possible, giving room for choice and autonomy.
Educate and inspire: We can’t “teach” people to accept or do something, but we can help them broaden their cognitive boundaries by providing them with different perspectives and information.
Through BeiBei’s comments, we learnt that “The Box” project is not only a platform for exploration and education, but also a platform to challenge and change existing social perceptions. At the same time, it reminds us that real change is complex and multi-faceted, and requires consideration of various cultural, social and personal factors.