Opinion: Every Body is Worthy

Did you know that 15% of young women have some form of an eating disorder? Or that 45% of boys and girls in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade want to be thinner? These statistics alone should be worrisome to you. These children are the future, and they will eventually become partners, parents, and grandparents. From a young age, children are shown what the “ideal” and “perfect” body is, and what steps to take to achieve it. However, these “perfect” bodies aren’t so perfect after all. Thanks to the fashion industry, magazines, and television, people are constantly being exposed to an unrealistic ideal.

Media places a major value on physical appearance – being attractive, and fitting into social standards. Several studies have linked exposure to media and how it is related to body distortion in men and women. For women, media exposure leads to the burning desire to be thin, whereas when men are exposed to media, they feel pressured to be muscular. With the average person age 8-18 being exposed to some form of media for 7.5 hours a day, the odds of them developing body dissatisfaction are extremely high.

When it comes to the fashion world, we are constantly exposed to advertisements of these extremely thin women, wearing little clothing, and not having a single flaw. The fashion advertisements such as Calvin Klein for men show nothing but a muscular, extremely handsome man sporting just his undergarments. Not to mention, when a company launches a “plus size” model, she is still smaller than the average woman. These companies are setting unrealistic standards for what men and women should strive for, and they are putting a great deal of pressure on how they should look. That is why American Eagle’s “Aerie” has gained so much attention. Aerie has vowed to rid all of their advertisements of edits and photo-shopping, and choose to use “real” models that people can look up to. Aerie didn’t take this stance for profit, but to prove to their impressionable audience that the real you is sexy and that every body is worthy. The entire fashion world can learn from Aerie, as they wont stop until they make a change, and men and women no longer stare at an unrealistic since of beauty and perfection.

Another risk that stems from body image is bullying. Overweight and underweight children and adolescents are at a higher risk for bullying. Bullying can come from friends, coaches, teammates, and can be as simple and subtle as teasing by family members. When anyone is a victim of bullying or teasing due to weight or looks in general, they will most likely develop a negative boy image. Therefore, one of the most important steps in helping your child or friend who is dealing with body distortion and dissatisfaction is learning what to say, and what steps to take to help them cope. Family members should be aware of their child’s behavior, and be able to notice any changes that occur. Parents should look for a change in their sleep pattern, a decreased self-esteem, and sudden weight loss. If something is noticed, a parent must act immediately to prevent the issue from becoming bigger or resulting in self-inflicted harm.

Body dissatisfaction can stem from many factors, and it is important that these factors are understood and discussed. Being exposed to too much media, making little remarks to your children about their weight, and ignoring a silent plea for help can cause so much harm to a person’s body and mind. It is important that people understand that the “perfect” models in the media are retouched to look that way, and that the standard to look like that is very unrealistic. Men and women need to stop believing and being told that they aren’t enough, and that they need to change to fit the “standard.”