RESEARCH CENTRE: A woman’s worst critic
Who is a woman’s harshest critic? A new study claims that it is the woman herself. Apparently, the average woman criticises herself eight times a day. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
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Even more worrying is that this negative attitude was found to be what women wake up to. At least 46 per cent of the women surveyed admitted to criticising themselves at least once before 9.30am, while 42 per cent said that they never complimented
themselves.
Eighty-nine per cent of the respondents were found to give compliments to their friends in ways that they never praised themselves while 88 per cent said that they would never criticise their friends in the ways that they criticised themselves
Who is a woman’s harshest critic? A new study claims that it is the woman herself. Apparently, the average woman criticises herself eight times a day.
To investigate this worrying trend, researchers from Weight Watchers an American company offering weight loss products and services looked into the lives of 2,000 women. At least one in seven of the women
surveyed admitted to criticising herself regularly throughout the day.
The bulk of the women surveyed reported that most of their self-criticism was linked to their body image. Most of them reported wanting to lose weight and worrying about their personality.
Another source of the putdowns was found to be not earning enough money or holding down the right jobs. Women also judged themselves when they felt too scruffy standing next to other women and worrying
that they didn’t wear enough makeup.
Some women worry that they aren’t as creative as other women, while others worry about not having enough sex with their partners. Then there are those who deflect positive compliments by saying something
negative about themselves.
Most of this self-criticism occurs when a woman looks at herself in a mirror or when she is out shopping.
Even more worrying is that this negative attitude was found to be what women wake up to. At least 46 per cent of the women surveyed admitted to criticising themselves at least once before 9.30am, while 42 per
cent said that they never complimented themselves.
Eighty-nine per cent of the respondents were found to give compliments to their friends in ways that they never praised themselves while 88 per cent said that they would never criticise their friends in the ways that
they criticised themselves
The researchers blame this problem on selfies and social media platforms. These platforms present women with images of physical perfection which they are expected to live up to while at the same time holding
down jobs and raising families.
“We are seeing a rise in women being self-critical from the way they look to the way they feel at work,” said Zoe Griffiths, the head of public health at Weight Watchers.
The research found that women being unkind to themselves is something that has been going on for a long time. Modern cultural conditions which are difficult for her to avoid have however increased the intensity
of this self-loathing.
