A sign with the message “self care isn’t selfish”. Image sourced from Pexels.
According to a new CDC report comprised of data from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, teenage girls are experiencing concerning levels of sadness, hopelessness, and depression, with nearly three in five girls feeling this way. According to the report, this number is up almost 60% from 2011, just ten years ago. But it doesn’t stop there, unfortunately; the CDC also found that more than one in four girls seriously considered suicide in 2021, also up nearly 60% from 2011, and that more than one in ten attempted suicide, up 30% from 2011.
The report doesn’t explain why these numbers are skyrocketing, however, it does provide information about a couple of potential factors; first, the levels of sexual violence being experienced by teenage girls is also increasing each year, with about one in five experiencing this type of violence in the past year, which is up 20% since 2017. Additionally, more than one in ten girls reported having been, at some point, forced to have sex. This number is up 27% from 2019, when the CDC first began monitoring this phenomenon Aside from sexual violence, the report clarifies that a combination of several complex factors can put youth at risk for depression, suicide, substance use, poor academic performance, and more. It also explains that alcohol use is higher among teen girls than teen boys, a fact that is widely backed by other researchers and organizations.
Many people find themselves feeling insecure about their bodies and struggling with their mental health. Negative body image and diet culture have created an unhealthy environment in both the consumer market and social media. Diet culture refers to a belief system that values a thin body type and puts emphasis on fitness and focuses on controlling food intake. Body image refers to how you view your body and how you feel about certain aspects of it, including your height, weight, and shape.
Diet culture is not something new to the 21st century, it dates all the way back to ancient Greece. It started when the ancient Greeks believed that being fat was an imbalance that needed to be resolved. It then expanded to the medical community by spreading awareness about obesity-related illnesses. With this, people began demanding fast weight loss methods such as medication and surgical intervention. This, along with other factors, is what ultimately caused the false concept of skinny meaning healthy and fat meaning unhealthy. It is very important to understand the rise of diet culture and what led to its effect on individuals today.
What do you think of when you hear the word “princess”? Maybe you thought of fairy tales or enchanted forests. Was it maybe talking animals or singing? Or maybe I’ve already swayed your opinion with the picture I used, and you thought about Disney. Maybe you would have thought about Disney anyway. After all, Disney Princesses have been a part of our culture since the release of Snow White in 1937. However, not very many people know that there was a princess before Snow White. Though Snow White was Disney’s first full-length movie, the short film The Goddess of Spring (1934) featured the story of Persephone and served as a test run for the first “official” Disney Princess. Since then, princess stories have been loved by both children and adults alike. These stories and the culture they’ve inspired are beautiful and magical. Unfortunately, we’ve found that even fun things like these can have negative effects.
Halloween is right around the corner and for a lot of people that means discussions of costumes and outfits have been the hot topic the last couple of weeks. Or maybe even months if you’re somewhere who likes to plan ahead. Whether you’re going to a costume party, hosting one yourself, taking a younger sibling trick-or-treating, or just dressing up for fun at home, Halloween costumes are a chance to have fun. Unfortunately, it is also a time of year when familiar derogatory comments begin to resurface, particularly about the types of costumes we wear. The concept of “sexy” costumes became popular in the 1970s when adults began celebrating Halloween again and gained even more traction during the era of “barely-there” fashion in the 90s. Women were actively embracing their sensuality and feeling sexy and powerful in an expressive and creative way. Because of this, women were and are still actively shamed because they’re viewed as provocative.
Shaming women for their clothing choices is nothing new. But if the shaming of “sexy” Halloween costumes is a relatively new topic, then where else is the shaming of women’s clothing prevalent? Why are women unable to express themselves how they want to with their clothing without being shamed for being inappropriate. One big reason that women’s clothing is frowned upon is because of dress codes that are strictly enforced while we’re in school. We’ve probably all heard the familiar narrative: school is a professional environment and you need to dress accordingly. Or something of that nature. But the nature of what was considered “professional” or appropriate seemed to get more and more ridiculous as I progressed through my K12 academic career. We were being taught from a very young age that our bodies were something that needed to be covered up. In short, the dress code harmed us in one extreme way: it contributed to the objectification of our bodies and changed how we viewed ourselves.
According to the Anxiety and Depression and Association of America, body dysmorphia occurs in about 2.5% in males, and in 2.2 % of females. It is no secret that while both men and women struggle with body image, women have a higher rate and predisposition for developing body dysphoric issues. By the time young women get to college, many have already or are still experiencing some degree of body image issues or dysmorphia.
Adolescents and teens are naturally sensitive as they are developing into their own sense of self. The truth is, it’s human nature to overthink what we absorb and compare ourselves to others. If it continues, however, it may very likely develop into depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other beauty obsessions. Girls may decide wear more makeup, change their style of clothing, or exercise excessively to achieve an ideal. These are only a few of the harmful beginnings of body dysmorphia.
A woman measuring her waist Image taken from: pexels.com
By Bailey Brockett
If you were to ask a female if she was content with her body, more than likely she would have something to complain about. It wouldn’t matter what size pants she wears, or how clear her skin is, she would inevitably find something that she could live without. Body dysmorphia is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder and is defined by Psychology Today as, “overly preoccupied with what are perceived as gross imperfections in their appearance.” It is a disorder that most females, and humans in general, will experience in their lifetime. According to the Anxiety and Depression and Association of America, body dysmorphia occurs in about 2.5% in males, and in 2.2 % of females. We are experiencing it at an alarming rate due to increases in social media use and exposure to a limited representation of body types. Again, if you were to ask a female if she was content with her body, you would find out that she has experienced some form of body dysmorphia at any point in her life, whether she is aware of it or not. So, that is exactly what I did. I asked a group of ladies of varying ages and sizes if they would feel comfortable answering questions about their experience with body dysmorphia. Here are their responses.
Today’s Barbie doll is often seen as an “anti-feminist” doll. It’s argued that she body shames women into thinking that her figure is the “ideal” of how a woman is supposed to look.
On the contrary, Barbie actually started out as a symbol for feminism. She was the first doll to exist that wasn’t a baby doll. It was society’s first doll that didn’t teach young girls how to nurture and become caregivers.
Barbie also allowed girls to imagine having a variety of occupations. Throughout history, it taught young girls that they could become anything, including but not limited to: an astronaut, a lawyer, a teacher, or an athlete.
With the onslaught of feminist critique, the makers of Barbie are currently concerned with the low sales of the dolls. This is due to the body image the dolls are portraying.
Over time, Barbie has evolved into a series of “ideals” that mothers no longer want to showcase to their young daughters.
Her “un-relatable” hourglass figure. Her long blonde hair. Her bright blue eyes, and her perky breasts appear as what society calls the “perfect woman.”
“Moms are probably the most important influence on a daughter’s body image. Even if a mom says to the daughter, ‘You look so beautiful, but I’m so fat,’ it can be detrimental.”
Parents sometimes don’t realize how much children observe and learn while they are still growing.
I grew up with a mom and grandma who would diet fairly often. While I was always a petite girl, I still have that nagging voice in my head saying I need to “eat better and exercise more.” It was just the type of environment I was raised in.
We are so quick to blame television, the radio, famous icons, and anyone else other than ourselves. Granted, those mediums of information do play a role in how society views things. However, they are not the sole instigator.
If the traditional Barbie was a real woman, she would be 5’9”, have a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist, 33-inch hips, wear a size 3 in shoes, and weigh about 120 pounds. This “perfect” body image would likely result in A LOT of health issues. For instance, the woman described would likely not be able to menstruate at all.
This was NEVER the common body image, but it was the “ideal” body image. Therefore, it gives an unrealistic expectation to young girls. One in 100 thousand women are born with this body type. But, should we be body shaming the girls that are thinner or bigger than Barbie?
Cindy Jackson in 1979 vs. 2014
In 2016, the average American girl between the ages of 3 and 11 owned approximately 11 Barbie dolls. All were the same size, so that they could share Barbie clothes.
Barbie’s body image influenced Cindy Jackson so much that she underwent over 20 different cosmetic surgeries so that she would fit the Barbie body image. In 2006, she was named, “Britain’s most surgically altered woman.”
“Why should we live in a face that’s foisted on us from birth? We choose our clothes, our hair-colouring. Why not our face?”- Cindy Jackson
Cosmetic surgery is a heated topic among feminists, in regard to whether it’s right or wrong. Some feminists think that we should be able to do whatever we want with our bodies. Including altering them into the way we want them to look. Others argue that cosmetic surgeons, “ruthlessly prey on women’s body insecurities.”
No matter where you stand on the issue, it’s safe to say that idolizing a plastic toy so much, that they spend millions of dollars to look like it, is a little overboard.
Kim Culmone, VP designer at Mattel, said, “Barbie’s body was never designed to be realistic. She was designed for girls to easily dress and undress.”
Barbie was supposed to be a fantasy for little girls. The dolls were meant to be a tool for young girls to imagine more for their lives–other than the expectations to get married, have children, take care of the house, etc.
The company that created Barbie, Mattel, is now redesigning Barbie to be all different sizes: short and tall, a variety of waist sizes, and a variety of ethnicities. They are completely rethinking the image of Barbie.
Mattel struggled with deciding to redesign such a traditional figure, because in past test marketing groups, the children did not like the new variety of dolls. They wanted them to look like the traditional Barbie.
Hulu recently released a documentary on the process of redesigning Barbie. This documentary is called, Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie.
In this documentary, Mattel tells the history of Barbie and how she has evolved.
“Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie, examines the world’s most popular doll, from her humble origins to her controversial persona today. In her 59 years, Barbie has become a fashion icon, a lightning rod, and a target for feminists. This documentary reveals unprecedented access to the inner workings of a toy giant during Barbie’s biggest reinvention.” –IMDb
After watching the insightful documentary, my view of Barbie has changed. I think she was just misunderstood and a little delayed in evolving with society.
Advertisement for “Van Gogh of Wheat Fields and Clouded Skies”
By Chloe Rigg
A picture speaks a thousand words.
A Van Gogh piece might suggest, “warmth, radiance, summer.” While a piece by Salvador Dali could conjure up, “surreal, strange, unimaginable.” Now, what thousand words are recalled by this:
An advertisement for Skyy Vodka
For one, it takes a couple of looks to even tell what product is being advertised. And second, I think more than a thousand words could go along with this picture. And they aren’t as radiant as a Van Gogh painting.
A time spent traveling to far off locations, working at home, or binge-watching Netflix and eating ice cream all day. I never used to be anxious about spring break, because I always spent it skiing in Sandpoint. The bulky winter clothes were perfectly acceptable. No one could see my face because of my ski googles, so makeup was out of the question. Spring break was the perfect week. I did not have to worry about my appearance.
Well, that is certainly changing this year. This year, I am planning a trip to Honolulu, and I am very excited. However, as soon as I bought my plane ticket, the pressure was on. I need to be “spring break ready.” I was going to have to wear a bikini! What if people saw my stretch marks, or cellulite? What if my tummy was too chubby? My legs were too big? Instantly, all of these thoughts crashed into my mind.
That’s it, I told myself. Eat really healthy and exercise every day. I wanted to look AMAZING on the beach.
Renaissance artwork by Hans Baldung titled “The Seven Ages of Women”
By Chloe Rigg
Pear.
Apple.
Hourglass.
These words seem to have no connection at first glance. But, they are actually different female body shapes. These classifications tie into modern beauty standards and body image. Today’s society wants women to strive to have porcelain skin, be tall, and skinny but with some curve. These body standards exclusive to the diverse multicultural world we live into today. One might think that beauty standards have always looked like the traits previously described. Looking back into history through different cultures will prove this completely wrong. What society defines as beauty is a fluid idea that could change at any moment.
So, what traits portrayed the “ultimate” beauty throughout history?
uiwomenscenter.wordpress.com 