Prisoner of your body
Today society measures beauty by the yardsticks of the media. Pictures of scantily clad, skinny women are splashed across the television screens and print media, and practically every other product is marketed using the distorted images of woman’s sexuality. The society however is not oblivious to the issue of negative body images in the minds of millions of girls and young women around the world. Studies show that children at the age of nine are conscious of their figures and want to lose weight. Parents ought to worry about such shocking realities, and they should be aware that children need body fat for proper development of the organs. Starving affects all the systems of the body.
Females are under immense stress to fit into the media-dictated standards, which later on lead to smoking and substance abuse. A number of models are addicted to drugs, or suffer from ailments like anorexia and bulimia being unable to handle the pressures of their profession.
Surveys show that a large percentage of young girls are unhappy with the way they look as a result of negative body images, and they want to get thinner and thinner, even though they may not be actually overweight as per medical definitions. Girls are either oblivious of or not concerned of the medical definitions, and they just want to fit into the clothes the lean models display. Majority of the girls during such surveys have confessed that images of models with perfect bodies make them feel ashamed of their own imperfect figures. Another fact is that a fashion model who weighed only 8% less than an average American woman thirty years ago, today weighs 23% less.
It is a matter of concern that the society is laying lot of importance on the external image, instead of the true value of the individual. It becomes the parent’s responsibility to instill self confidence in the child and give right direction to her dreams and aspirations. Only if you inspire your daughter to look beyond stereotypes can she realize her true worth, and overcome the negative body images ingrained in their psyche, which is the reflection of a toxic culture.
Despite mounting pressure from the society and peers, growing children should not develop eating disorders. Unhealthy crash diets should be strictly yet gently deterred, as they impair proper development of the body. Parents can restrain from criticism, and encourage children to respect health and life. Also, girls should develop a positive attitude towards physical activities, and a sedentary lifestyle has to be discouraged. Those who indulge in outdoor sports and games lose weight in a healthy way, and they tend to continue exercising, and involve themselves in sports even after they become adults, thereby burning more calories than they consume. Moreover, teenagers who are physically active do not waste time and energy in bad company, indulge in substance abuse, or get into disastrous relationships.
Schools and colleges can help tackle the issue of negative body images in the minds of the girls, and help develop awareness by means of counseling and seminars. Children can discuss their insecurities in such forums where they realize that they are not alone, instead of hiding their fears of being ostracized by the society for being ugly. The society has the moral responsibility to nurture the future generation. A culture that worships the physical form cannot respect humanity, both women and men.
Men are not free from the issue of negative body images either, as they tend develop the mindset of valuing the body above the individual. It is the duty of every individual to stand up against the wrong portrayal of women, by the media for selfish reasons. We should not hesitate to break stereotypes and free ourselves, if the body becomes a mere prison.
