I can’t count how many times I said this to myself. I am insecure. I openly admit that. I have had my share of embarrassing or awkward moments because of my body, or my hair, or my skin. True, I shy away and it usually takes a number of me-empowerment songs and a book of ‘you’re great’ quotations to overcome one episode. You don’t know how many pages of my journal would be scribbled with the long spidery cursives of a narrative about my solitary ooops moment. There are times when I just wouldn’t want to get out of the house because I’m sick of spending so much time dressing up or fixing my hair.
Yet, I never really envy those people who are beautiful. I see them every day strutting their prefect hair, skin, and body but what’s good about me is that I never get envious. I’m sorry, I am no green-eyed chick.
My life revolves around the media. I am a writer and that means, I try to check-out magazines for updates on what’s hot and what’s not. I am a girl too and that means I have this innate lust for clothing and cosmetics. This is where I come to consider media’s implication to beauty.
I am perfectly aware how the media portrays the women in magazines, TV ads and even books. They have perfectly round boobs, blemish-free skin, shapely torso and super long legs. I know how the perception of beauty has been a big social issue for the past few centuries and that everyone is trying to fit unto that description…since like forever!
I saw this woman blaming the media for being the catalyst of eating disorders and poor self-esteem of young girls…I don’t agree with her…well…not entirely.
When I was in high school, I flipped through girly magazines despite my tomboyish tendencies. And at a young age, I realized what society expects us to become…like these unrealistic images. Yet, I realized something else.
Yet, I never really envy those people who are beautiful. I see them every day strutting their prefect hair, skin, and body but what’s good about me is that I never get envious. I’m sorry, I am no green-eyed chick.
My life revolves around the media. I am a writer and that means, I try to check-out magazines for updates on what’s hot and what’s not. I am a girl too and that means I have this innate lust for clothing and cosmetics. This is where I come to consider media’s implication to beauty.
I am perfectly aware how the media portrays the women in magazines, TV ads and even books. They have perfectly round boobs, blemish-free skin, shapely torso and super long legs. I know how the perception of beauty has been a big social issue for the past few centuries and that everyone is trying to fit unto that description…since like forever!
I saw this woman blaming the media for being the catalyst of eating disorders and poor self-esteem of young girls…I don’t agree with her…well…not entirely.
When I was in high school, I flipped through girly magazines despite my tomboyish tendencies. And at a young age, I realized what society expects us to become…like these unrealistic images. Yet, I realized something else.
I was watching this movie with my friends and without watching the entire introductory part of the movie, they complained that the movie is not worth watching because the female heroine is not so pretty…”They could have starred a more-attractive girl.” The girl, for me, has realistic features.
So from that I guess, the media only reflects what people wanted to see. For example, we know how ‘sex sells,’ right?
Well, what I’m saying is the media isn’t completely to blame!
I personally don't see myself being affected by the images of women in the media. Skinny girls in magazines has never affected me. But what if it's affecting the male population? What if it's setting their sights too high?
I remember that boy who told me he could have courted me if only I was thinner. Such a jerk, right?
What if guys are expecting to find someone that fits these magazine standards, and they're taking it out on us "real women?"
I know that there are no answers for this problem. These kinds of issues will bother the next generations to come and we have no power to change the perception of beauty. Only time has the power, with reference to those women in the 1800 who were voluptuous and were considered beautiful.
One thing that’s more comforting than a pint of ice cream the thought that no matter how skinny or fat you are, there will always be a guy that will appreciate you.
Bridget Jones, you know what, I commiserate with you.
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