What is Beauty? Body Image #1

What is Beauty?

Many young still girls believe that Barbie is how a woman is supposed to look:

no body fat, large breasts flawless complexion, big eyes.

But, if Barbie were a real person, she would be 5’9” tall, have a neck twice the length of a normal human's neck, and weigh 110 pounds, only 76% of her healthy weight.

Her measurements would be 39-18-33, and she likely would not be able to menstruate due to being underweight.

On top of that, her feet would be too small to support her when she walks.

In the mid-1980's The Body Shop conducted a campaign to raise awareness of the ways in which O/our image of beauty was shaped. The 'Ruby" campaign pointed out

"There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only 8 who do."

In 2006 the Dove Self-Esteem Fund found that little had changed. Girls and women remained generally unhappy with their failure to meet social expectations of beauty. The most shocking finding was that 3/4 of girls between 8-12 are unhappy with their bodies and by the time they reach 18 the figures rise to 92%. The 8% apparently satisfied with their bodies is disturbingly low and does not indicate a healthy body image or self esteem among the community of women.

So.. how do we and our daughters achieve that model of perfect beauty? Well, here is the answer gals:

Comments
(8 total) Post a Comment

* Cowbo…
* Offline

Peer pressure leads to eating disorders in teens and beyond...I personally prefer the beauty INSIDE the person, which makes the outer shell a million times more attractive--no matter what it is. I have plenty of junk in the trunk and around the middle, but if someone chooses not to like the exterior (or to get to know the interior me)--shows them the door. (Steps down off soapbox)

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 10:23am (GMT) Remove Comment

* Aragorn
* Offline

A quote by Sophia Loren states;

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."

It is great to see the issue raised and for a company like Dove to try to redress the balance. It will take a lot more effort by a greater number of people to make a difference but it will be worth it.

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 09:47pm (EST) Remove Comment

* Mcallan
* Offline

She was better before they started messing with her..:)

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 11:03am (GMT) Remove Comment

* eroti…
* Offline

smiles at Sis... all that matters is whats in my heart ..isnt like barbie nor wish too .. as women and men we need to lead by example and educate the young on where the beauty really is and we are all different shapes and sizes ..each unique in our own ways..that is what truly makes us all special ...jumps down from soap box ..smiles and hugggs great post sis

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 05:07am (CST) Remove Comment

* ~bekk…
* Offline

*hugggggggggs you up some more* thank you thank you thank you for this post! to this day, i cannot stand it when a mother tells her already thin daughter that she looks fat... how are little girls supposed to grow up strong and beautiful when E/everyone around them tells them that "thin is is"? if Y/you want to see what an eating disorder can do to O/oneself, just take a look at Nicole Richie or any of the other "lollipop" celebutards ~ aneorexia and bulimia are practically 'celebrated' around the world (see the overabundance of websites maintained by teenage girls and dedicated to the disinformation of aneorexia and bulimia), the modeling industry thinks that a size 2 is "too" big... gah! i could go on and on with this topic... *jumps off soapbox, huggggggggggles you up, tweeks your nose, dips you, and tells you that you are one hell of a woman, and i am so glad to be your sis*

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 06:41am (EST) Remove Comment

* …
* Offline

I still have a small issue with the Dove campaign.... Did anyone notice that the "new mom" holding the baby was pretty toned up for having such a little one... I'm not even that toned and my baby is almost 2. Plus the c-section scar on her was too healed.... Mine is still on the pinker side. I wish they would have used a new mom, instread of an "older" mom. Oh well, Professor doesn't seem to mind and THAT is all that truly matters.

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 04:35am (PST) Remove Comment

* [dele…

I got a call the other day from a young girl I used to work with. She had a troubled and violent childhood and now at 17 is a great student and part of a family that cares. She'll go to college next year, unless her new career modelling locally takes off. But the past leaves its mark. She wanted to know what I thought of the "Pro- Anorexia Movement" and if it's a good idea. Do I condone repackaging a poentially fatal disorder as something socially acceptable? No. I do see it as an attempt to cope, to rationalise something that arises out of a lack of love and adjustment. Wouldn't just be easier and safer to offer love and adjustment? I hate to think that we've come to the point at which it's easier to pretty-up the problem rather than devote some energy to a solution, but the former requires less giving of ourselves. The courage to change the things we can is achievable, and perhaps we need a little less acceptance of the other, as it's sometimes not as difficult as it seems. Spread the word.

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 04:44am (PST) Remove Comment

* Indig…
* Offline IM

important message for U/us to take on board.. thank you blonderaven ..*s*

Thursday December 21, 2006 - 11:48am (CST)