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Reflection

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"beauty"- the smaller the prettier

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cosmetics- a big part in females every day lives

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"beauty" the lighter the better

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stereotypes of what young girls should look like.

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study published by Girlguiding this week has revealed that half of girls feel stifled by gender stereotyping, with children as young as seven believing they are valued more for their appearance than for their achievements or character. It is not, I believe, a coincidence that in the same week a government-funded study has shown a quarter of girls exhibit symptoms of depression by the age of 14.

Neurobiologists now know there is no discernible difference between male and female brains at the point of birth. By the time humans reach adolescence, there will usually be significant divergence. Traditionally, psychologists have tended to assume this is because men and women are naturally and inherently different. This has led to a widespread and largely unquestioned cultural belief that, left to their own devices, girls would instinctively gravitate towards dollies, pink things, sparkles and baking, eschewing "masculine" activities such as sport and science.

What this assumption fails to take into account is the phenomenon of "neuroplasticity", combined with gender bias. Brain development is determined by what we do, and therefore if, unconsciously, adults steer children towards certain activities based on their gender, they influence how their minds grow on a physiological level. Thus gender bias becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I'm not for one second suggesting that, if all things were equal, there isn't a chance there would be a natural discrepancy in the interests and activities that people of different genders are drawn to. But things are not equal, so we can't know definitively either way. Furthermore, constraining stereotypes have a negative impact on girls' mental health, convincing them first that an ever more demanding paradigm of physical "perfection" must be met with apparent effortlessness and then that being "popular" - meek yet sociable - sexy but not "slutty", sporty in a narrow, feminine parameter (not "too muscular") are imperatives. This, combined with the ever-spiralling academic pressure experienced by all young people, understandably causes high levels of anxiety, which, when sustained over time, can lead to feelings of depression.

Never is this more pronounced than when one observes the difference in culture between co-ed and single-sex schools. As someone who visits more than 150 schools throughout the UK annually, I've noticed that girls in a single-sex environment tend to be more confident, more willing to share their opinions and more likely to develop a passion for Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). I put this down in no small measure to the fact that, in a single-sex school, there can be no such thing as "girl" and "boy" subjects. It gives us a glimpse into what society might be like if we levelled the playing field.

In the words of Jean Kilbourne, global expert on the relationship between media narratives and gender inequality, "the first step is to become aware". I endeavour not to use gendered terms such as "girls", "boys" or "ladies" when delivering classes in schools, not only because they fail to acknowledge the potential presence of transgender people, but because I don't believe it's helpful for humans to be constantly reminded of their gender (and all the social expectations attached).

I also challenge parents and teachers to spend a week engaging in a "compliments swap" challenge. This involves replacing praise focused on appearance with praise relating to character. For example, instead of commenting on a person's shoes or hair, the emphasis is moved to remarking on astute observations, acts of bravery or kindness. Even the most enlightened people are usually surprised when they begin noticing how often they unconsciously reinforce the notion that a woman's worth is nothing more than the sum of her parts. This is something that can be replicated on social media.

Education policymakers need also to acknowledge that, rather than spending every waking moment engaged in parrot-style, exam-centric, fact-based learning, children need the time and space to develop critical thinking skills. Teachers can only give young people the tools they need to question aggressive self-esteem- and mental-health-destroying cultural narratives if there is sufficient space within the school week to encourage discussion and debate.

The mainstream media can assist in this endeavour. After all, while a girl growing up in 2017 may have imbibed the message that it is possible for her to become prime minister, she will also have learned that what will matter most is how her legs look in a pencil skirt.

Natasha Devon is an author and campaigner who works in schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK. She was previously the government's mental health champion for schools

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You are your looks: that's what society tells girls. No wonder they're depressed | Natasha Devon

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study published by Girlguiding this week has revealed that half of girls feel stifled by gender stereotyping, with children as young as seven believing they are valued more for their appearance than for their achievements or character.

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issues women faces with "expectation of beauty"

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What is body image?

Body image refers to a person's personal view of their body shape, size, weight, and appearance. It also consists of how greatly one values a desired body weight, size or shape, preoccupation, level of satisfaction, and fear of weight gain. Body image is also influenced by personal body size and shape history, as well as cultural and societal norms and expectations. This image of oneself may or may not reflect how others view them or be an objective view of their body. It is important to note that most people experience some degree of body dissatisfaction or distress either at some point in their lives during a period of body change; For example, during adolescence, pregnancy or illness. Many experience body image dissatisfaction to some extent throughout their lives.

Causes of Body Image Dissatisfaction

Poor body image can begin to develop at a very young age. With estimates ranging from 20-70% of children under the age of 6 expressing body dissatisfaction. It is more commonly thought that negative body image affects only girls and women, but this is not the case. Men and boys suffer negative body image and related poor self-esteem too, but they may be less likely to admit to being affected because it is less socially acceptable. Body dissatisfaction in boys and men can often be focused on a desire to be bigger or have more muscle mass, rather than thinness per se.

There are many factors that may contribute to negative body image. Within American culture, thinness and beauty are highly valued, and wealth and success are often considered to go hand in hand with being thin. The media has historically glamorized thinness. This is witnessed in television, movies, news, and professional sports. Media, and social media, specifically, serve to fuel body image concerns in children, teenagers, and adults. Influencers and social media presences demonstrate what it looks like to be beautiful, thin, successful, and popular. Their body weight, appearance and beauty are often associated with their social standing, wealth, and success. This is despite the fact that social media accounts are highly curated, often unrealistically altered snapshots of an individual's appearance and lived experience. Thin-ideal media highlights the idea that thinness is a good and desirable thing to be, even if it is to a level that is potentially damaging to a persons health.

Participation in certain aesthetic sports or activities can also fuel body image concerns and efforts to alter one's body shape and size. Sports such as gymnastics, dance, distance running, and swimming may place participants at risk for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. These risks can be elevated in elite-level athletics.

Body image and eating disorders

The development of an eating disorder is the result of a complex interaction of biological, psychological, social and environmental factors. Negative body image alone is not necessarily enough to trigger an eating disorder. However, poor body image may result in dieting or restrictive eating patterns in order to lose weight, which can develop into an eating disorder. This is especially true for those with a genetic predisposition toward developing eating disorders.

One component of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa specifically is an over-valuation of shape and weight, meaning that body size and shape are given a high value in the person's overall self-concept. Those with anorexia nervosa often struggle to accurately perceive or describe their body size and shape, even if they become dangerously underweight. Furthermore, body image concerns typically do not improve over the course of the illness or as an individual loses weight. Though this is not described as part of the diagnostic criteria, people with binge eating disorder (BED) can experience over-evaluation of shape and weight, and it can be a strong indicator of severity of eating disorder symptoms in these individuals.

The Effects of Poor Body Image

The effects of a poor body image of women can be profound. For someone genetically predisposed to an eating disorder, dieting caused by a negative body image could trigger one. However for the majority of the population, what happens is a preoccupation with food and diet, weight cycling, low self-esteem, low self-confidence and never feeling that one's body is adequate. In addition to leading to the development of eating disorders, a poor body image can contribute to depression, anxiety, problems in relationships, the development of substance abuse problems, and consequently various health problems.

Poor self-esteem often contributes to problems in relationships, the workplace, and any area in life that requires confidence.

Addressing and treating Negative Body Image

Changing the way the media portrays women is a long-term goal for many advocacy groups. There are currently national and international efforts to make marketers take responsibility for displaying pictures of men and women that are unrealistic. The #truthinads campaign is an example of this and some beauty brands and clothing producers have reacted to public pressure by promising never to use photoshopped models in their catalogs and to expand sizes.

On the individual level, there are some things you can practice to improve self-esteem. Focusing on your accomplishments and good qualities and important aspects of your self-concept, repeating gratitude and loving kindness affirmations, and engaging in activities that result in a feeling of pleasure and mastery can all help to shore up self-esteem. Regularly engaging in enjoyable and moderate movement or exercise can also help with body image. With regard to social media, unfollowing social media accounts that result in excessive comparison or feelings of distress. Excessively seeking out social media content that results in downward social comparison, or, taking the stance that you are not as good (fit, thin, healthy, etc.), as the person or account you are viewing, is especially detrimental to mental health. Following body positive influencers or accounts may help. However, if you find it difficult to identify with the message that you should simply love your body as it is, it may be wise to distance yourself from these types of posts as well. negative body image and disordered eating in response.

For those with serious anxiety, depression or eating disorders related to poor body image, psychotherapy or counseling is recommended. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective form of therapy that can be used to target poor body image as a stand-alone issue or in the context of effective eating disorder treatment. It can take a long time to get to a place of love for your body, especially after years of dissatisfaction and efforts to change your body. Therapy can help you to move first toward a place of body acceptance and appreciation.
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Additional Information:
For more information on the media and body image, follow these links to body image in the media, the perfect body image, and Barbie and body image. To find out how you can help and to learn about healthy body images and body dysmorphic disorder, just follow the links. Learn more about how weight stigma and eating disorders are related.

Here is a list of celebrities that promote a healthy body image. Be sure to choose your role models carefully.

See also these tips from the National Eating Disorder Association: 10 Steps to Positive Body Image
Return To Home Page Written by Tabitha Farrar - 2014 References:
Updated by Dr Elisha Mitchell Carcierei, Ph.D. - 2019
1. Park, S. (2005). The influence of presumed media influence on women's desire to be thin.Communication Research, 32(5), 594-614.

2. Hargreaves, D. A., &Tiggemann, M. (2004). Idealized media images and adolescent body image: "comparing" boys and girls. Body Image, 1(4), 351-361.

3. LM, Irwin CE & Scully S: Disordered eating characteristics in girls: A survey of middle class children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 1992

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Body image refers to a person's personal view of their body shape, size, weight, and appearance. It also consists of how greatly one values a desired body weight, size or shape, preoccupation, level of satisfaction, and fear of weight gain.

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this article talk about how the standard of beauty is bringing females self esteem down.

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A booming beauty industry is changing the way we see our bodies. Shutterstock

From the daily application of high-tech lotions and potions to non-surgical procedures such as botox, fillers and peels, the beauty industry is booming like never before.

With more products and treatments available there is also a growing pressure around how people feel they "should" or "shouldn't" look. So whether it's fake eyelashes, tattooed eyebrows, manicured nails, body waxing or lip fillers, the chances are we all know someone who has these - and often we view these types of treatments as "normal".

The sociologist Dana Berkowitz, has pointed out the increasing normalisation of botox. In her book Botox Nation she says:

The fact that Botox injections are temporary, repetitive, addictive, and marketed as preventative has made it such that these injections are fast becoming regular body upkeep, just like teeth cleaning and haircuts.

Sociologist Meredith Jones has also argued that cosmetic surgery is already normalised. She claims it will be "the absolute norm" for women by the middle of the 21st century.

While it is still the case that only a small percentage of women - and an even smaller percentage of men go under the knife - many more would like to. And the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has reported a rise in what has been termed the "daddy makeover" in a recent report:

There has been an epic rise of 20% in male liposuction and a 13% jump in "man boob" reductions.

Growing old grey

Growing old gracefully is increasingly seen as a failure to make the best of yourself - and even shows a lack of respect for the self and or for others. It is to "let yourself go".

In my book Perfect Me!, I track the increase in what is demanded to meet minimal standards of presentation. And I look at routine practices such as hair colouring. I argue that while women in their 60s and 70s may be grey, very few in their 30s, 40s, and 50s consider grey hair an option. In fact only the young can be grey - which is more of a fashion statement - and grey for young women is high maintenance because it requires near constant colouring.

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Body hair is another particularly illustrative example - what once considered the norm has changed dramatically over just a few generations. To show visible body hair is now more of a political statement than a fashion choice - shown by the Armpits for August and other campaigns. Body hair is also seen by many people as being unclean, disgusting and something to be ashamed of - and these are judgements with a distinctly moral flavour. And it is now the case that both women and men remove all or some of their pubic hair - and shame is often attached to non-removal.

Shame is also often cited by doctors as part of the reason why women are wanting a labiaplasty - surgery to reduce the size of the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, labiaplasty procedures spiked 39% in 2016, with more than 12,000 procedures in the US alone.

Never enough

This shift in the way beauty is increasingly defining people means it is functioning as an ethical ideal - in that it is the standard we use to judge ourselves and others, whether good and bad. And all of this has a significant impact on how people feel about themselves.

Recent studies, have revealed how much this is affecting people - particularly girls of a young age. The Girls' Attitudes survey has shown how body image worries affect many aspects of young girls lives - stopping them wearing the clothes they like, having their pictures taken, taking part in sport and speaking up in class.

The survey reports that 47% of girls aged 11 to 21 say the way they look "holds them back", while 69% of girls age seven to 11 feel like they are not good enough. It is with this in mind that the Youth Select Committee's recent consultation focused on this topic.

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This culture of beauty obsession is making young girls feel they are failures and that they don't measure up. To many of these girls, this feels like a "moral failure" - they have "let themselves go" and are ashamed of their very selves.

This is very different from past beauty ideals and recognising the depth and intensity of body shame - and understanding its moral nature - is vital. Because while the demands of what we have to do to be "normal" or "just good enough" continue to rise, there has also been a marked increase in anxiety and body shame in young women - which surely isn't just a coincidence.

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How the duty to be beautiful is making young girls feel like failures

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this video shows how people will always complain about something, all you can be is you.

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Dove | Beauty on your own terms #MyBeautyMySay

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This video is a prime example of how confuse our society has become, and how makeup as become a big influence in females everyday lives.

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This video is about young girls talking about how they feel about them selfies. what they like and dislike about their body and the reason why.

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Girls Ages 6-18 Talk About Body Image | Allure