Final answer:
Individuals who strive to match cultural ideals of beauty are conforming to social norms and cultural expectations. This can lead to pressure to maintain certain appearances and behaviors, influenced by peers, media, and cultural stereotypes.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who attempt to conform to cultural definitions of an attractive body, primarily an issue historical for women, are conforming to social norms and cultural expectations.
The imposition of socially constructed ideals of beauty often leads to various societal pressures for women and men to conform to specific body types. In the case of women, the cultural ideal is often connected to slenderness, which can influence behaviors and contribute to serious health issues like anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Statistics reveal that certain professionals, such as dancers, jockeys, and athletes like gymnasts, are particularly susceptible to these pressures. Approximately up to 12 percent of dancers suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, which is significantly higher than the general population's 2 percent.
Conformity extends beyond physical appearance to behaviors and mannerisms, influenced by reference groups like peers, media, and cultural stereotypes. The pressure to conform can lead to a uniformity in appearance, perpetuated by media representations that often highlight thin, idealized body types. Such representations not only challenge individuality but can also encourage the undervaluing of diversity and contribute to negative stereotypes and attitudes towards women.