In this time of more, however, there are some distinct drawbacks. Overload from being connected 24/7, commonplace violence in the news, games, and movies, the need for immediate gratification. What I'd like to focus on today though, is the bombardment of media and social pressures on our kids to look a certain way.
Historically speaking, "skinny" wasn't always the sought-after goal. In earlier centuries, being skinny was a sign that a family did not have enough food or that illness was wide-spread. In the mid 20th century women were marketed with products to make them more curvaceous. Even as close as 25 years ago, models typically weighed 8% less than the "average" American. Today, the disparity is 23%. In fact, only 5% of the population would be able to attain the current media ideal (From "Mirror, Mirror"- Social Issues Research Centre). And the really sad part is that even those people are photoshopped and airbrushed to look different.
On one hand, kids (and adults) are being shown advertisements that make it seem like eating out, and eating a lot, is the way to go- giant cheeseburgers or super sized fries and big gulps of soda. It's easy to go through drive through, pick up the processed quick and easy meals at the grocery store, or snack on whatever bag of chips or fast food we can get at our local convenience store.
On the other hand, we're being shown that to be happy, to fit in, to "make it" in life, we need to be super skinny, have clear skin, perfect teeth, and wear the right clothes. It's in our tv ads, shows, movies, magazines, advertisements on games, music, and our internet searches.
Just today, I read an article and watched a video about a new app that had been removed from the iTunes and google play called "Plastic Surgery & Plastic Doctor & Plastic Hospital Office for Barbie." The problem: it promoted the notion that women need to be thin and that plastic surgery is the way to achieve that goal. And add that the app was geared towards kids as young as 9. You can check out the article and video here. (I found it interesting that on the page with the article and video there was an article about "how to look as gorgeous as an NFL cheerleader" and an advertisement for the newest diet pill.)
Another video to get you thinking comes from Dove's Campaign for real beauty showing how we describe ourselves versus how others see us...
It made me think about the conflicting messages that our students receive and how many of them take those messages to heart. It makes me wonder who their role models are? If we've taught them how to distinguish the messages they see and hear to determine what's real? If we've provided good examples of being loving towards our own bodies? I certainly like to think so, but I also realize that I am not immune to societal pressures- agonizing over those 5 or 10 pounds I'd like to lose, going to McDonalds because I'm too tired when I get home from work to cook a meal, or complaining about the size of some body part.
I love that there are more and more people everyday making the choice to be a role model for a healthy, whole body and mind. Check out some videos...
- Here's a great video from a sorority that started a "fat talk free" week back in 2008
- A clip from one of Jennifer Lawrence's interviews
- Dove's Evolution video (using photoshop)
- "She said it" Celebrity quotes
