It seems every young woman in America today (or at least on this site) is more concerned with losing weight, "achieving" a flat tummy, or shrinking their thighs to 13" around than they are with understanding and loving themselves.
It is scary reading most of the posts in this forum. Adolescent girls wanting to capture their prepubescent bodies before they (God forbid) gain some curves, ladies comparing their tiny body measurements to one another's, and starving themselves into a size 2.
What's scarier is seeing the support these girls get from the other brainwashed teens. Yes, I understand that some teenagers are legitimately overweight and have been advised to lose weight by a doctor; but I do not understand why (or how) some girls think every woman's body is supposed to fit a 5'7" 125pound mold. Most bodies were not meant to look like that. To try to force it is just asking for problems.
Every individual is unique and beautiful and one should not strive to have someone else's body. It's a never ending cycle of self-deprivation, guilt, and comparisons that every blindsided teen is captured in.
What I want from you beautiful people who are reading this is to stand up against the pressure to conform to the media's perception of beauty. Recognize what is beautiful in you and be an influence to struggling, confused young women.
My input:
My measurements are not the focus, but don't think I'm someone who gives the "big is beautiful" speech every time someone pokes my chub just to make myself feel better. Truthfully, I am 5'6" and 120 pounds. I was heavier in the past, but found that when I started loving myself for how I'm made, the weight came off. Without the stress and preoccupation of not eating this or that, I was able to focus on being healthy and taking care of myself.
I love my womanly figure, my narrow waist and big hips. I have thick, muscular thighs and a round face, but they are perfect. I can grab a big handful of muffin top and skip stones in the ripples my legs make when I run, but I know I am healthy and beautiful. I love my body.
^very well put.
garnet, there's a very good chance that the thin "real people" you're talking about seeing as inspiration are indeed "thin" because of what they've been force-fed by the media. So it COULD indeed all be coming back to that. No, you can't solely blame the media, but they're ALL OVER photos of a celebrity that has gained weight. Actresses are often turned down for roles because they're not thin enough. Thin is seen by most people in Hollywood to be beautiful.
Every time you turn on the tv, you're bombarded with dieting commercials- pills, workouts, surgery, etc.
If the media disappeared, I'm not saying everyone would blow up to a high-range healthy weight, but I sure think we'd have less pressure to be thin.
starcrossd - good job ignoring the valid points made by other posters regarding the media. You are clearly just another example of someone who is incapable of taking responsibility for your own actions and instead sees fit to make excuses for yourself and others. I wish people would quit making excuses and start accepting the consequences of their actions and taking responsibility, rather than blaming it all on the media. Ugh.
ETA: Also, I find it amazing that people are so obsessed with those few members of the population who are striving to be thin, when the majority of the American population is actually OVER weight.
Original Post by starcrossdlovex:
garnet, there's a very good chance that the thin "real people" you're talking about seeing as inspiration are indeed "thin" because of what they've been force-fed by the media. So it COULD indeed all be coming back to that. No, you can't solely blame the media, but they're ALL OVER photos of a celebrity that has gained weight. Actresses are often turned down for roles because they're not thin enough. Thin is seen by most people in Hollywood to be beautiful.
Every time you turn on the tv, you're bombarded with dieting commercials- pills, workouts, surgery, etc.If the media disappeared, I'm not saying everyone would blow up to a high-range healthy weight, but I sure think we'd have less pressure to be thin.
can you say that for sure? there is one specific girl i have in mind who i always admired because she was so thin and beautiful. she was less than 100 pounds and yet she ate fast food several times each day. i know because she was one of my good friends.
believe it or not, there are a lot of girls who eat healthy amounts of food and are simply naturally thin. my sister, for example, is another girl who motivated me. she sits down at the kitchen table and eats chips and ice cream straight from the carton, and she's barely 100 pounds.
there are probably more naturally thin people than there are thin people pressured by celebrities to be thin. probably.
Original Post by soaraway:
starcrossd - good job ignoring the valid points made by other posters regarding the media. You are clearly just another example of someone who is incapable of taking responsibility for your own actions and instead sees fit to make excuses for yourself and others. I wish people would quit making excuses and start accepting the consequences of their actions and taking responsibility, rather than blaming it all on the media. Ugh.
ETA: Also, I find it amazing that people are so obsessed with those few members of the population who are striving to be thin, when the majority of the American population is actually OVER weight.
LOL, you're absolutely ridiculous. Thanks for the entertainment though.
I don't even know if I should bother pointing out all the things completely ridiculous about your post.
But just for future reference, you may wanna actually read my post before making asinine accusations/assumptions about how I didn't read previous posts.
& garnet, thanks for actually reading what I said & formulating a response. Sorry I'm a bit distracted by soaraway. Anyway, while I definitely agree that there are a lot of people who are naturally thin, there are also a lot of people that want to be thin because they admire Nicole Ritchie & other thin celebs. There's no way for us to know which group is larger, unfortunately. & also, even naturally thin people generally have their eating habits catch up to them eventually, & then many of them start trying to lose weight- how much of that is driven by the media? Again, there's no way for us to know since these can only ever be hypothetical situations [unless someone figures out how to eliminate the media? haha]
It's definitely a curious topic though.
Man, things are starting to get pretty heated in this thread!
And just to clear things up: I was not trying to attack the media or naturally thin people. I am not even trying to attack thin people at all. My point was to bring attention on loving yourself no matter what size you may be and not getting discouraged by being bigger than the next girl.
I was intending on girls posting what they love about themselves--girls who share my point of view--but a healthy debate never hurt anyone either!
Just don't get me wrong: I don't think all weight/body image issues stem from the media. They originate from family issues, peer pressure, low self esteem, and comparisons. My focus wasn't to diss Nicole Richie and those starlets.
Wow, this is probably the most intelligent post I've seen in the Young Calorie Counters forums. (I tend to steer clear of YCC in the first place, so I guess that isn't saying much, lol.)
I think "brainwashed" is the perfect word. You can't deny the fact that the media does affect the way we think. It would be naive to think that it has no influence over us. (Also, the media doesn't just cater to the people. It can easily create demand for any product - regardless of whether we "want" it or not.)
Of course, we can't just blame the media. We have to take responsibility for our own actions. Unfortunately, when you're a teenage girl, it can be difficult to break away from what the media says.
Is it wrong to be thin? Absolutely not. Is it wrong to believe that you're worthless unless you're thin? In my opinion, yes. I think it's unfortunate that there are young women who feel as if they need to be thin to have self worth.
I don't disagree with this post entirely, but I do think it's a little extreme.
Too many generalizations for my taste.
Too many generalizations? Yeah, you're probably right. I haven't studied the topic well enough to form a better answer, lol. =P Socialization and the media is very interesting, though!
Great topic. =)
Okay, I feel compelled to add this. I think there's a lot of selective memory going on with regard to "the media" here. Remember how E! railed on Nicole Richie for being too thin? And the cover of one of those celeb mags (I can't remember if it's Us or People) this month has "winners" and "losers" in the weight battle...and while there are plenty of people who get the "winner" label for weight loss, there are also plenty who get the "loser" label for taking off too many pounds over the summer.
Maybe I have this perspective from working in the media, but I just don't think it's fair to say young women are "brainwashed" by "the media" because there's SO MUCH media out there, and even within mainstream media there are tons of different perspectives. What you pay attention to comes from the attitudes you have about self-worth and about who makes a good role model beforehand, and those are values/attitudes formed in the home.
Original Post by garnet18:
and so those are not real people?
they are. the world is ruled by people. it's all us.
the people in the media are only doing their jobs. they provide us with entertainment, and i, personally, am grateful.
I don't want to start a mud-slinging contest, but you're really coming off as a tad ignorant, and while it's true, that humans are running this supermassive entity we're labeling "the media," it's also true that it's a source of brainwashing, the target being society in general.
As human beings, we're easily influenced by external stimulus - coinciding with human behaviour and preying upon our fears and what we perceive as wants and needs, the "media," whether it be television, radio, videogames or the newspaper, can target us and tell us what it thinks we want or need. "Buy this, it'll help to achieve so-and-so," "Buy this, everybody else has it so why don't you?" and other such general and underlying messages.
However, you're not the only one who thinks as you do. Sheep to the herd, I suppose.
Original Post by garnet18:
Original Post by 3lia:
People/things do have an effect on what we "want" and sometimes not all people "want" what is best for their body. I honestly don't think that people who "want" to be underweight should simply go for it because they "want what they want". Yes I completely support people doing things to make them happy, but in most cases with things like this someone wanting to be constantly underweight is going to get sick, be it starvation or a mental disorder, and chances are doing what they "want" is not going to help them in the long run. And I'm not blaming it solely on the media, because I understand how dumb that is because people are individuals, but I was more going with the thing that their are people on here that have no confidence and want to lose excessive amounts of weight considering their height/current weight, and overall it's not going to make them happy when they actually do lose it.
Edit-also this was a reply to garnet18 :P I'm not 100% sure how the reply thing works.
ah, i see.
well, what if it does make them happy?
i admit that i lost a lot of weight in an unhealthy way, but i am, more or less, happy. happier than i was when i was overweight.
i'm not underweight, and as much as i honestly would like to be, i'm not going to try. i can understand that many people with eating disorders want to keep on losing more and more weight because it's a control thing, but for me, i believe it was strictly about the weight. i've reached a weight that i'm comfortable with, and although i do sometimes wish that it were a helluva lot lower, i'm more or less content here. that being said, the only difference is that i would not accept myself and i would not be happy if i were to gain weight. but i believe that having lost a lot of weight, i'm FAR more comfortable with myself now.
*shrug* i guess i'm an odd case? assuming that most other people who develop eating disorders can never attain the happiness they strive for... i guess i have. dunno.
"i admit that i lost a lot of weight in an unhealthy way, but i am, more or less, happy. happier than i was when i was overweight."
... aaand this is what we call "mental illness."
Original Post by aloysius:
Original Post by garnet18:
Original Post by 3lia:
People/things do have an effect on what we "want" and sometimes not all people "want" what is best for their body. I honestly don't think that people who "want" to be underweight should simply go for it because they "want what they want". Yes I completely support people doing things to make them happy, but in most cases with things like this someone wanting to be constantly underweight is going to get sick, be it starvation or a mental disorder, and chances are doing what they "want" is not going to help them in the long run. And I'm not blaming it solely on the media, because I understand how dumb that is because people are individuals, but I was more going with the thing that their are people on here that have no confidence and want to lose excessive amounts of weight considering their height/current weight, and overall it's not going to make them happy when they actually do lose it.
Edit-also this was a reply to garnet18 :P I'm not 100% sure how the reply thing works.
ah, i see.
well, what if it does make them happy?
i admit that i lost a lot of weight in an unhealthy way, but i am, more or less, happy. happier than i was when i was overweight.
i'm not underweight, and as much as i honestly would like to be, i'm not going to try. i can understand that many people with eating disorders want to keep on losing more and more weight because it's a control thing, but for me, i believe it was strictly about the weight. i've reached a weight that i'm comfortable with, and although i do sometimes wish that it were a helluva lot lower, i'm more or less content here. that being said, the only difference is that i would not accept myself and i would not be happy if i were to gain weight. but i believe that having lost a lot of weight, i'm FAR more comfortable with myself now.
*shrug* i guess i'm an odd case? assuming that most other people who develop eating disorders can never attain the happiness they strive for... i guess i have. dunno.
"i admit that i lost a lot of weight in an unhealthy way, but i am, more or less, happy. happier than i was when i was overweight."
... aaand this is what we call "mental illness."
oh, i'm not denying that i have a mental illness on a certain level.
this does not mean that i can't formulate thoughts that aren't interrupted by what you all seem to think is wrong and skewed. i'm not "brainwashed."
and so it's a problem that i'm happy at a lower weight? why? am i not allowed to like my body because it's unhealthy? if that's the case, then should overweight people be allowed to like their bodies?
there is no law that states "you must be healthy to be happy." that is an opinion.
"a square has four sides" is a fact.
"george w. bush is the president of the united states" is a fact.
"health is more important than appearance" is an opinion. get it?
happiness and satisfaction are 100% subjective.
i know that you're probably going to try and counter me again with the fact that i have an eating disorder and thus cannot think properly. i admit that the eating disorder has CHANGED my way of thinking; however, it has not made me WRONG. what is wrong? again, wrong is subjective, unless you're talking about how many sides a square has.
i don't know how to make it any more clear, honestly.
Original Post by aloysius:
Original Post by garnet18:
and so those are not real people?
they are. the world is ruled by people. it's all us.
the people in the media are only doing their jobs. they provide us with entertainment, and i, personally, am grateful.
I don't want to start a mud-slinging contest, but you're really coming off as a tad ignorant, and while it's true, that humans are running this supermassive entity we're labeling "the media," it's also true that it's a source of brainwashing, the target being society in general.
As human beings, we're easily influenced by external stimulus - coinciding with human behaviour and preying upon our fears and what we perceive as wants and needs, the "media," whether it be television, radio, videogames or the newspaper, can target us and tell us what it thinks we want or need. "Buy this, it'll help to achieve so-and-so," "Buy this, everybody else has it so why don't you?" and other such general and underlying messages.
However, you're not the only one who thinks as you do. Sheep to the herd, I suppose.
true, although i believe that the media argument has been addressed. in the end, it's a cycle, and as stated before it's the sole responsibility of the individual to either become a part of that or steer clear.
my point about the media being made up of people was to deny the ridiculous idea that the media is some, say... machine that brainwashes society. of course it's not, but with all the fuss you think that's what it would be. the fuss is just a way to dodge responsibility and avoid addressing one's own weakness/ inability to think for one's self.
Hey all. Again.
SORRY TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS...BUTTTTT...
I THINK WHAT ALL THIS COMES DOWN TO IS THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND VIEWS ON THE MEDIA.
I THINK THAT FAMOUS PEOPLE ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THE OVER WEIGHT ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THE UNDER WEIGHT ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THE PERFECT WEIGHTS ARE REAL PEOPLE TOO.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN BODY ISSUES (WHETHER THEY THINK THEY'RE TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL).
THIS THREAD HAS BECOME SO HEATED AND INTERESTING. FULL OF GOOD THOUGHTOUT POINTS AND JUST A FEW IGNORANT REMARKS. "Why so serious?" Although the media has a HUGE influence on millions of people, in the end it can't actually control you or what you choose to do with yourself. Your emotions are hurt, they are helped, then it's just a rollar coaster from there..
Original Post by gabbaheyjaded:
I THINK WHAT ALL THIS COMES DOWN TO IS THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND VIEWS ON EVERYTHING.
fix'd
but seriously, this is what it comes down to. well put.
Wow, how easy it must be for someone 5'6'' and 120 pounds to say the things you said in your first post. And, I'm sorry, but at 5'6'' and 120 pounds, there's no way you're grabbing a big handful of muffin top and skipping stones in the ripples in your legs.
aloysius: okay, but "the media" rigorously tests itself on actual audiences. films are test-screened repeatedly (exhaustively, really) until they get a favorable reaction. products are screened through focus groups. ads that receive enough negative feedback are pulled or changed. A recent example of this is for one of those mint/gum brands. Remember the ad with the woman who goes up to the man, lifts his nose, and "drinks" water out of him? They used to have a weird "glug, glug" sound accompanying it, but it's gone. Why? Because people thought it was freaking weird.
So the answer to the question "why do the media use stick-thin models to promote their products?" is essentially because said stick-thin models sell. The real question we should be asking is *WHY* they sell--why has the ruckus raised about these models being too thin not resulted in massive drops in sales? Why haven't there been organized boycotts of the fashion industry, or of teen magazines? Why, if we hate "the media" so much, do we still support them?
How many of you media-haters have cable? Watch mainstream movies? Buy the occasional (or more than occasional) fashion magazine? Read articles on your yahoo! homepage? You don't overturn the media by bitching about them, you do it by undermining their profits. Are you willing to give up your fancy clothes and entertainment to get rid of the media, or at least this skin-and-bones-focused version of it? Because unless you are, you're still supporting "the media," which means that if you think "the media" is the problem, you're monetarily condoning "the media" and its methods. And then where does the blame lie?
Original Post by aerogers:
Wow, how easy it must be for someone 5'6'' and 120 pounds to say the things you said in your first post. And, I'm sorry, but at 5'6'' and 120 pounds, there's no way you're grabbing a big handful of muffin top and skipping stones in the ripples in your legs.
hey everyone has their own issues with their bodies okay??
you can't tell someones body type just by their height and weight.
everyone is built differently.
just because she's "lightweight" doesn't mean she doesn't have bigger thighs or love handles or something.
someone's a little bitter.
& i know we all are at times (because i would love to be that weight too) but seriously think about it, you have no way to judge whether she's "skipping stones in the ripples in (her) legs" or whether she can "grab a big handful of muffin top) unless you've seen her legs and sides in person.
Original Post by garnet18:
Original Post by gabbaheyjaded:
I THINK WHAT ALL THIS COMES DOWN TO IS THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND VIEWS ON EVERYTHING.
fix'd
but seriously, this is what it comes down to. well put.
haha thanks :), that is true as well.
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