Media, Eating Disorders and Girls
Focusing on Appearance Alone is Not Healthy for Girls
Mar 26, 2007
There is enormous pressure from the media on young girls to be thin. Models can be seen everywhere with their skeleton frames sticking out suggesting this is the body image one should strive for. This image is not realistic or even attractive to some, yet the desire to imitate them remains. Eating disorders are so common in models that it seems to get glamorized to young girls. This is a dangerous thing to want to imitate. “15% of young women have some kind of disordered eating patterns.” (Random House, eating disorder statistics,2007)
Body Image and Barbies
The media reinforces this standard by promoting dolls like barbies which no girl or woman could ever seriously look like. The proportions are all wrong and the measurements when converted to full size are freakishly absurd. Many of them have very thin frames and enormous bosoms which is a very rare occurrence naturally. Also the majority of barbies happen to be blond and white with blue eyes. It’s completely unrealistic for this to be the standard of beauty especially if you happen to be a different race.
Media's Unrealistic Body Images
Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors and it’s extremely damaging to have constant exposure from the media telling kids otherwise. If you have a child who you know is attractive and yet you overhear them say they’re ugly, you know something has gone wrong. Girls and teenagers are self conscious enough about their body image without being bombarded with air brushed perfection which sometimes borders on looking cartoon like with their lack of blemishes and freckles.
While completely sheltering girls is not the answer either, encouraging them to pursue other interests and hobbies that embrace their individuality helps. A song sounds beautiful whether it’s sung by a size 2 woman or a size 16. Success at a sport such as martial arts, soccer or baseball does not depend upon how one looks. Excelling in a spelling bee at school or performing in a musical are all ways girls can feel good about themselves without the main focus being on their appearance.
Beauty Pageants and Comparisons
Encouraging them to participate in beauty pageants or comparing them to other girls can set them up for a let down. It also has the potential to backfire and encourage an eating disorder from the pressure to be a certain size. Young girls are starting to diet at younger ages and exposure from the media promoting beauty contests doesn't help this. Every girl has some strength they can pursue that is not based upon their physical appearance and that should be encouraged. Girls are much more likely to find long term success and happiness when they get their esteem from pursuing their own special talents, intellectual pursuits, strengths and hobbies.
There has been some progress on the promotion of ultra thin models and in some place they've been banned. For the most recent updates see: Skinny Fashion Model Debate
Related: Media's Unrealistic Body Image
