Contestants in the Fitness America competition pose for a photograph, Redondo Beach, California. The body has become a primary expression of individual identity for women and girls in contemporary American culture, and many girls put an enormous amount of energy and attention into their appearance (Image: Lauren Greenfield / VII)
See the related blog on our unhealthy obsession with our bodies
UNTIL very recently, we took our bodies for granted. We hoped we would be blessed with good health and, especially if we are female, good looks. Those who saw their body as their temple, or became magnificent athletes or…
