Today my coworkers and I were flipping through a People magazine at work which had “Hollywood’s Hottest Bodies” on it and we couldn’t help but feel absolutely defeated. It’s really sickening how often women are reminded of how much weight they have to lose or how much makeup they need to wear in order to look beautiful. Is there even such a thing as natural beauty anymore? What ever happened to loving yourself for who you are? When are we ever reminded to do that?
It is nearly impossible for women today to be unaffected by the constant pressures that they face from the media to be beautiful and thin. It seems that you can’t go anywhere without constantly being bombarded with images of what society expects you to look like. What’s most depressing is that the criteria for which the media expects is nearly impossible for most women to achieve!
Women of all ages today desperate to look like those in magazines and on TV and therefore will go through great lengths to torment themselves into fitting into media’s template of perfection. More than ever women are willingly torturing themselves through starvation and surgical reconstruction. Every woman wants to feel beautiful and most importantly have others think that they are “hot”. Yet, the majority of women look pretty plain compared to the breathtaking flawless images of models that men are conditioned to salivate over.
When Tyra Banks gained 30 pounds the media went crazy ridiculing her about how “fat” she got. She’s 5’10 and weighed 161 pounds! That’s no wonder that women have low self esteem and there has been an increase in depression and eating disorders! The sad part is that no matter how hard you try it is nearly impossible to avoid being affected. I’m sure many women thought, “We’ll if Tyra is fat then I must be a cow!”
And isn’t age something that you are supposed to embrace? With age comes wisdom and experience! But according to the media – if you’re 65 years old and you look like your 65 something is wrong with you! Why don’t you look like your 25 years old? Oh it’s probably because you’re either not buying the right products or you really should go get a face lift! I’m sorry but I do not want my grandmother to look like she’s 20 years old because that would really freak me out!
What else is sickening is when I see mothers bringing their 13 year old daughters asking if they can have a tan for their confirmation! Now more than ever I’ve also noticed parents giving their teens the gift or new breasts or other cosmetic surgeries for graduations and birthdays! But who is to blame for that besides the media? I’m sick of looking through magazines and watching TV and doubting every part of my body instead of embracing it.
I can’t wait till I have children and my 10 year old daughter asks me if she can get breast implants for her 8th grade graduation and maybe a tummy tuck. If media is affecting me at the age of 21 I wonder how awkward developing 12 year old girls feel today! What is wrong with our society? When are we going to finally see positivity and self acceptance in the media?
12 comments:
I think that people should totally do whatever they feel makes them comfortable and beautiful. Forget all the anorexic, and cracked out celebrities. Who cares what other people think. People should learn to tune out others opinions, and stick to the truth, that they're are who they are, and comfortable with what they have become. The media negatively portrays almost everything.
recently a high school student died while getting breast augmentation. I remember feeling so disgusted with the media for forcing young girls to feel this way.It is time we set a new standard for beauty.
I totally agree with you and I having a younger sister and cousins worry about them because already some of them think they are fat too, they're 12! And totally agree with you that the media is not helping.
I agree with you that the media sets a certain example of beauty that no woman can really live up too. On the other hand, as someone who plans to go into some form of media, the tactics work. Women happy with themselves don't buy facial cream for their wrinkles. It may be unethical, but it works.
It sucks that there are these criterias and standards for beauty. I hate to admit that when I watch TV or a movie I always judge the actors. And partly it's because I'm born in this environment that if they're not perfect, then am I paying to watch them?
But recently, I glad that the term beauty in the media is changing. With Ugly Betty and other inspiring songs, I think beauty is slowly changing. It just needs lots and lots of time.
arghh, this stuff frustrates me. It really is disgusting. A while ago i was watching true life and there was an episode with overweight girls who were extremely comfortable with their bodies. They didn't even wanna lose weight. And truthfully, I personally would never want to date a girl who's so skinny that when i hug her it feels like i'm hugging myself. lol.
I think that people should stop trying to follow what these girls on in magazines and on television look like and accept themselves for who they are. Something needs to be done before all of the women in the world go crazy trying to become something that they aren't.
Hollywood and the media are the reasons behind the eating disorders in this society. They hold beauty standards at a place where most people cant achieve it. It shouldn't matter how a person physically looks, it should be whats on the inside. But unfortunately looks takes precedence over personality for some people. No man or woman should ever feel like they aren't "beautiful enough" because we are all beautiful inside and out and we need the media to show that looks don't matter!
This sort of thing makes me sick also. Its already happening, have you ever heard of a thing called Bratz, its disgusting. 10-14 year old girls showing off their middriff and wearing knee high leather boots.
lol I loved that line about when you have a 10 year old daughter! I always say things like that, its sooo truee! Your commentary on society is right on, and that is scary. I'm glad that you have a good head on your shoulders and realize this. =]
THANK YOU! I loved reading that! I hate women complaining that they aren't as thin as Jessica Alaba (was before she aparently got knocked up) or as thin as Kate Bosworth, how thin is too thin when does it stop? It is so pathetic when women wallow over their small breasts, or big nose, or thin lips, or curly hair-- individuality is beautiful and it starts getting boring when women have to start looking like everyone else!
The media certainly defines beauty for the rest of us. This is especially true for colored women who don't fit the standards of Eurocentric beauty. When will this change? Probably never. Women need to take a more active part in self acceptance.
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