Final answer:
Social identities influence societal beauty standards which play a significant role in shaping an individual's body image through comparison and shared cultural beliefs. They provide a social network for comparison and emotional support while also offering a space to challenge existing beliefs about body image.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses how social identities shape our body image. The correct answer is that they influence societal beauty standards which in turn affects our body image. Social identities provide a social network wherein individuals often compare themselves to others, setting benchmarks for what is considered attractive or desirable. This comparison can lead to a pressure to conform to societal beauty standards that may not align with a person's natural body type or features.
Developments in areas such as puberty can also have an effect on a person's body image and self-esteem. Early or late physical development may impact an individual's view of themselves in context to their peers, potentially resulting in negative body image and low self-esteem.