Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Body Image

Dear Women of the USA,

I am enthralled to see you all independent and successful despite expectations of a male-dominated society. I am thankful for your strong-will and persistence to never settle for anything less. As a woman, I stand among all the morals and values you all hold dear. But I have a burning discontent within my heart. There are injustices and lies presented in society that distort the perceptions of reality.

Media is twisting the definition of real beauty. Photoshop, airbrush, miracle makeup, unrealistic diets and exercise are some of many ingredients of a picture perfect model. Women can never live up to any of it. From the moment we were born, we have been trained to live up to an expectation we can never achieve. If Barbie was a real woman she would have to walk on all fours due to her proportions. We must also watch out for our men. If GI-JO was a real man he would have larger biceps than any bodybuilder in history. And what about our children? Forty-six percent of nine to eleven year olds have admitted to experimenting with diets.

Every day we are presented with hundreds of images through TV, magazines, newspapers, bus stops, Internet, advertisements, you-name-it. It is bound to have an influence on us and our perceptions of the world. I challenge you to guard your heart. Know what is true about yourself. Every woman was created to be beautiful and to fulfill a purpose beyond what the world throws at us. Do not look for value and acceptance from the world. Don't look for it in magazines. Don't look for it in movies. They will only leave you feeling less than you we meant to be

I do not intend to say that diets and exercise are bad. These are one of the most healthy habits you can establish for yourself. Balanced meals and daily exercise has many benefits. It is only when these habits become an obsession, is it unhealthy. You cannot diet and exercise for the wrong reasons.

Do not choose to support the lies that media consumes us with. Be the change you want to see. Encourage others to believe that they are created how they should be. Encourage healthy habits, and eliminate obsessive habits. Bring awareness to the real beauty that the distortion of media has prevented us from seeing. I ask that you, women of the USA, redefine real beauty.

1 comment:

  1. This is a good common sense article. Very helpful to one who is just finding the resouces about this part. It will certainly help educate me.

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