Topic Name- Impact of Societal and Family Expectations Date- 26/072023 Time- 6 PM – 7 PM  Location- Online Facilitator- ACAP Students Introduction- The open discussion on societal and family expectations, titled “Impact of Societal and Family Expectations”, was held on 26/07/2023. The purpose of this event was to raise awareness about the Impact of Societal and Family Expectations, discuss its impact on mental health, and explore its cause and solutions. This event aimed to foster a supportive environment for participants to share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns about the Impact of Societal and Family Expectations. Agenda -          What is the funniest and most creative way you have used to distract yourself from engaging in social comparison? -          What is the memorable moment when social comparison helped motivate you? Does it only have to negotiate consequences or positive effects too? -          Imagine a world where social comparison didn’t exist how. How do you think it would change the way we view ourselves and others? General Guide The event followed a set of group rules to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all participants. These rules included:   1. Only share what you personally feel comfortable sharing. 2. Don’t share personal information about others discussed within the group without permission. 3. Allow everyone to have their say. 4. Respect. 5. Take time out if you need it- you can turn off your video or you can leave any time you have to. 6. It would be great to see each other’s faces, turning on your camera is encouraged. 7. Inappropriate behaviour will result in being removed from the event.         Causes of Social and Family Expectations: The discussion focused on the fundamental reasons behind social and family expectations. These expectations frequently result from historical customs, media impact, cultural norms, and the desire to live up to social expectations. The way that families interact, how people are raised, and generational expectations all affect how people see themselves.     Effects on mental health and general well-being: Participants talked on how anxiety, despair, and low self-esteem might be caused by cultural and familial expectations. The strain of having to live up to these expectations, whether in terms of looks, relationships, or work, can be detrimental to mental health.   Potential Solutions: Community members brainstormed strategies to address the negative impact of societal and family expectations. These included promoting open conversations about mental health, challenging traditional gender roles, fostering self-acceptance, and cultivating supportive environments that value individual growth.   Redefining Success and Personal Fulfillment: The event highlighted the importance of redefining success to encompass personal fulfillment and happiness, rather than solely relying on external validation or societal benchmarks.

Body image refers to the perception, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that individuals hold about their own bodies. It encompasses how people view their physical appearance, including factors such as size, shape, weight, and overall attractiveness. Body image is not only influenced by one's own observations and opinions about their body but also by societal standards, cultural norms, media portrayals, and personal experiences.    In today's society, body image has become a significant aspect of mental and emotional well-being, as it can greatly impact self-esteem, self-worth, and overall psychological health. Positive body image involves having a realistic and accepting view of one's body, feeling comfortable and confident in one's own skin, and appreciating the body's functionality rather than solely focusing on its appearance. On the other hand, negative body image can lead to feelings of inadequacy, shame, and dissatisfaction with one's physical self, potentially contributing to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.    Given the prevalence of media, advertising, and social media platforms that often promote unrealistic and idealized body standards, many individuals, particularly young people, struggle to develop and maintain a healthy body image. Addressing body image issues requires a combination of self-acceptance, challenging societal beauty norms, fostering positive self-talk, seeking support from friends, family, or professionals, and promoting a culture of body positivity that values diversity and inclusivity.   Causes and impacts of unrealistic beauty standard and body image.  This topic is of great importance as it intersects with mental health, social dynamics, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Developing a well-rounded understanding of body image, its influences, and strategies for cultivating a positive body image can contribute to healthier relationships with oneself and others. The causes of beauty standards and body image perceptions are complex and often multifaceted. They can stem from a combination of cultural, social, psychological, and media-related factors. The media often portrays unrealistic and narrow beauty standards, showing only a limited range of body types and appearances as desirable, which often lead to individual with the feeling of inadequateness, pressured and create unrealistic expectations if they do not fit these standards.  In addition, historical context has also contributed to development of negative body image and unrealistic beauty standard, changing preferences, social class associations, historical arts and medias, globalisation, all have influences and impact how people view their bodies and appearance. Furthermore, social pressure and cultural expectations plays significant role in shaping people's perceptions of ideal beauty and body image, as they have their own standards of what we called is an ideal beauty and body image. Many people feel pressured to conform with these so-called standards even if they do not align with their natural body types. That is when, they feel less confident about their beauty and body image, which results in different types of issues like lack of self-esteem, negative sense of self, lots of people do anything such surgeries, excessive exercise, follow strict diet that results in serious health issues, various mental health issues, and so on. Individuals who internalize negative beauty standards and experience body shaming are at a heightened risk of developing physical and mental health issues. This includes eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, which can lead to severe malnutrition and other health complications. The stress of conforming to unrealistic standards can also contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. The pressure to fit narrow beauty ideals can erode self-esteem and self-worth. People may start to doubt their value if they don't conform to these standards, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Negative body image can impact intimate relationships, as individuals may struggle to believe they are worthy of love or attractiveness. This can lead to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. They may also withdraw from social interactions due to a fear of judgment, which can lead to loneliness and a lack of support networks. In many cases, individuals to adopt unhealthy behaviours like extreme dieting, excessive exercise, or even resorting to unsafe weight loss methods. These behaviours can have serious consequences for physical health. Some individuals might avoid participating in certain activities or pursuing opportunities due to their negative body image, which limit their personal and professional growth. The impact of negative beauty standards and body image perceptions is pervasive and can impact both individuals and society in profound ways, affecting physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and societal values. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive effort to challenge and change these harmful standards and promote a more inclusive and healthy understanding of beauty and self-worth. Solution for creating a positive body image: - • Promoting Healthy Habits by concentrating on nourishing your body through a balanced diet and frequent exercise rather than striving for a particular appearance. • Put self-compassion and kindness into practise. People should approach themselves with the same compassion and understanding they would a friend. Realise that no one is perfect and that everyone has certain distinctive features.  • Make health and wellbeing your primary concern rather than appearance. Take part in activities that will improve both your physical and emotional health and make you feel wonderful. Give healthy nutrition, consistent exercise, and enough sleep top priority. • To combat self-hatred, use affirmations that are complimentary about your body. Self-critical statements should be replaced with ones that highlight your strengths and traits that go beyond outward appearance. • Educate people on the harmful impacts of body comparisons and the inflated ideals of beauty promoted by the media. People can be empowered to confront and alter their perspectives by understanding these processes.  • Instead, then relying on outside validation, validate yourself inside. Recognise your accomplishments and value in relation to your traits, deeds, and character rather than your outward looks. • Having Models from all body sizes and skin tone to make people understand that there is no ideal body that people need to have. • Limit your time spent with media that promotes body comparisons. Avoid participating in conversations or actions that entail judging or contrasting bodies. • Educating children from the school that everyone has their own dynamics and talents never comes in any specific body size or skin tone. Creating some programs relating to this which can be presented in front of kids and their parents.

It has always been hard for international students who are seeking opportunities in a foreign country and there is no doubt about it. We always hear about the lack of opportunities and biases at their workplaces and internship. International students may face restrictions on their ability to work or participate in internships. These restrictions may be brought on by visa restrictions, language barriers, or restricted access to job networks. International students may find it difficult to get real-world experience and advance their abilities while they are studying due to these limitations. For international students, additional challenges can arise from language competency and cultural differences. Even if they possess the required abilities and credentials, their prospects of landing a job can be hampered by communication problems and acclimating to cultural norms. Sadly, prejudice and discrimination may also limit prospects for international students. The hiring process may suffer as a result of some businesses favouring local candidates or exhibiting biases based on nationality or cultural background. All these lead the students to suffer and face a biased environment which can hamper their mental stability. For overseas students, the job market is considerably more challenging than anyone else. Making things equally challenging for everyone should be the minimal requirement; if we're all going to struggle, we should all struggle together, not some more than others (Navarro, 2022). Navarro, L. (2022, April 8). Do international students get equal opportunities?. The Switch. https://www.switchliving.com.au/student-guide/ideas/do-international-students-get-the-same-opportunities/