Young Ladies and Body Image: Why do we care so much about our wobbly bits?
Bethany Maher
Health Promotion Officer
Inglewood and Districts Health Service
Did you know....?
In the entire population of the world there are 3 billion women who don’t look like ‘super models’ and only eight (in 3 billion) who do.
Body Image is the perception that someone has of their physical self and the feelings they experience of this perception. Basically, it is how you feel about the way you look. Self esteem both positive and negative can affect our body image and the way we look and talk about ourselves.
From an early age we, as young girls, are flooded with “perfect” images of what we are supposed to look like through the media and sometimes our parents. Once we enter high school we are more likely to compare our bodies with our girlfriends, especially the negative thoughts about ourselves. The drive to be thin is strongly influenced through discussion with these peers, and even if we aren’t dissatisfied with our bodies we are still encouraged to engage in ‘fat talk’ with our peers just so that we won’t be seen as ‘stuck up’ or ‘weird’. However, the real problem with joining in on ‘fat talk’, and thinking that we need to be thin, can sometimes lead us to believe that it’s what boys want and if we don’t meet the ideal that boys won’t find us desirable.
It’s silly right? However, it’s true for a lot of young ladies in their late teens- early twenties. This failure to meet the ideal can also create fear and anxiety about having sex, due to the belief that when a boy sees’ our naked body for the first time he will not find us sexually desirable. Many young girls that I have spoken to have dealt with issues and still face them on a daily basis however, the first this I tell them is that if you find yourself questioning your self-worth and values based on the opinions of the opposite sex, just take a quick moment to look in the mirror and ask yourself Who am I? Listen to your conscience it will always give the best answer because no one knows your true beauty and strength then yourself, also a woman’s inner voice is actually her strongest asset, not her breasts, butt, hips or thighs.
When I am having a ‘fat’ day I read these boosters from the Butterfly Foundation to help me remember my positive assets:
· If you work on being a beautiful person on the inside, you will be a beautiful person on the outside. Always remember to be as kind & giving as you can.
· You only get one body. You will feel more alive & positive about yourself if you treat your body well by exercising moderately, eating nutritious foods & never going on dangerous diets.
· Focus on those parts of your appearance that you like with clothes & accessories that bring out your own personal style & confidence.
· Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Support your girlfriends & other young people by never bullying, teasing or putting anyone down.
· Take the time to compliment other people as much as you can. Not only will you make them wonderful – it will make you feel great too!
· Have fun with the way that you look, but don’t let it rule your life. Putting your energy into living & doing fun things is much more important.
· Don’t compare the way you look to anyone else. This is a very unfair thing for you to do to yourself, particularly if your comparisons are with glossy, digitally enhanced & airbrushed images of models & celebrities.
· Don’t feel as if you have to change for anyone, especially if you feel you need to do it to ‘fit in’ to certain crowd. If they don’t like YOU for who YOU are–they are not worth hanging out with.
· It doesn’t take an expensive dress & lots of makeup & styling to look amazing if you are going out for a special night such as your formal. Try not to place too much pressure on yourself on such nights & remember that your best friends will be a comfy pair of shoes, a fun attitude & a dazzling smile!
· If you feel down or worried about your appearance, please ask for help from a trusted adult. Everyone deserves to feel happy and positive about themselves.
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