We've all felt pressure from society to look, dress and act a certain way. A U.K. online pharmacy made waves when they sent a photo of a woman to people around the world, asking them to photoshop her to fit the "ideal" beauty standard there. Well, now they are back with part two, a look at how different countries perceive the "ideal" male body.
We live in a world filled with beauty standards.
And our society doesn't stop there. With constant pressure to conform to those standards, we criticize every inch of our bodies.
Women aren’t the only ones who face unrealistic standards.
Men are faced with these unrealistic beauty standards as well. An online pharmacy in the U.K. sent an unedited picture of a man and a woman to 19 different countries and asked graphic designers to photoshop the two to conform to the "ideal" beauty standards for that country.
South Africa
Needless to say, the results were quite shocking. The man's body in South Africa is made more muscular and tanner while the woman's body is made noticeably thinner.
China
The "ideal" woman in China is made to have a chest that is disproportionately large compared to her petite frame. The man's entire body was made thinner.
Colombia
It is amazing how the "ideal" body varies from country to country and how drastically different they all are from the original images.
Egypt
Not only were the body shapes changed drastically, but the skin tone and hair color were darkened as well. Egypt definitely enhanced the woman's and man's features in both "ideal" images.
United Kingdom
The study found that 40 percent of men living in the United Kingdom felt societal pressure from TV and magazines to have the perfect body.
Philippines
This mindset shared by nearly half of men can lead them to become wrapped up in a world based solely on appearances and nothing else.
United States
The United States was no different when it came to its "ideal" bodies. In a society that finds beauty in thigh gaps, chiseled abs, big chests, an hour glass figure and defined muscles, it's clear that extreme "ideal" beauty standards exist in the United States.
Spain
The goal behind the "Perceptions of Perfection" project was to inspire women and men to put their physical and mental health above their appearance.
Venezuela
And to create a world where body positivity and confidence are social norms, not a rare occurrence, for both men and women.
Serbia
While it may seem like a lofty goal, it's one that needs to be talked about and reached. Oh, what a world that would be.