It appears that the way the many people feel about their body image verges on the obsessional! There is little doubt that the culture and time in which we live determines how we all view body image - but are we as a society becoming more obsessed with ‘the body beautiful’? For many people the idea that they do not fit the ‘normal body’ image is very stressful.

 These issues and many more were explored at Alton Convent Sixth Form Conference. More than ever women, and increasingly men, are feeling the squeeze, with the same enormous pressure, to achieve physical perfection. From compulsive weightlifting to steroid use, from hair styles to cosmetic surgery, growing numbers of men and women are taking the quest for perfect muscles, skin, and hair to new levels.

Four eminent speakers attended the conference with more than 200 delegates from four different schools.

Dr Diana Harcourt who is the Co-Director for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England gave a fascinating insight into the idea of Body Image throughout the centuries.

Dom Anthony Sutch, former Headmaster of Downside School and regular contributor to Radio Four’s Thought for the Day explored the notion of obsession and concluded that this type of introspection inhibits people from looking outwards and making meaningful relationships.

Roger Catchpole, principle Consultant for the charity Young Minds, added to the debate with his idea that many of the images we see in our media driven world are unattainable and that is why they are so powerful and desirable.

Alton Convent Sixth Form was also delighted to welcome Shona Collins, winner of Channel 4’s Miss Naked Beauty. Her experience of the fashion world and its constant desire to push a vision of body image which in its more severe forms, poses a threat to mental well-being and to a lesser extent fostering a sense of inadequacy.

Graham Maher

Head of Sixth Form