Spring Break
It's Time To Stop The 'Skinny Sweepstakes'
Allyssa Milan
Issue date: 6/9/08 Section: Commentary
So what does all this lead to for middle-schoolers? From what I have seen, heard, learned and experienced myself, there is terribly cruel ridicule and social exclusion for those who do not fit the "norm," caused by incessant personal comparison of the self to other people, feelings of inadequacy, loss of self-worth, eating disorders, depression and suicide - all before we graduate from high school. Those seem to be just a few side-effects of the appearance-obsessed, materialistic culture that is being imposed on young, impressionable minds. It is a terrible cycle that cannot continue if we want to live in a healthy world.
When at any other point in human history have kids - let alone adults - lost their identities in comparisons not only to their peers, but to widespread, unrealistic, airbrushed images of half-naked 5-foot-10, 110-pound models? When else in human history have we been told repeatedly that we need this brand of clothing or this kind of car in order to be accepted as a worthy member of society?
Mainstream culture - whether directly or inadvertently - makes people feel inadequate and convinces them to keep buying into it in order to feel worthy. On top of everything else we deal with concerning our friends, families, school, professions and relationships, we only add stress to our lives and put more pressure on ourselves to fit images that have been created for us in order to prove ourselves worthy.
As the next generation of adults, we need to be especially conscious of the false reality of the images constantly bombarding our minds, the minds of the younger generation and eventually the minds of our future children. We need to cut ourselves off as best we can from the blind and superficial belief that the products we buy, the clothes we wear and the way we look defines our self-worth. Furthermore, we must be aware of the consequences that could arise if we do not do so - another generation of depressed, carb-obsessed, broken people.
When at any other point in human history have kids - let alone adults - lost their identities in comparisons not only to their peers, but to widespread, unrealistic, airbrushed images of half-naked 5-foot-10, 110-pound models? When else in human history have we been told repeatedly that we need this brand of clothing or this kind of car in order to be accepted as a worthy member of society?
Mainstream culture - whether directly or inadvertently - makes people feel inadequate and convinces them to keep buying into it in order to feel worthy. On top of everything else we deal with concerning our friends, families, school, professions and relationships, we only add stress to our lives and put more pressure on ourselves to fit images that have been created for us in order to prove ourselves worthy.
As the next generation of adults, we need to be especially conscious of the false reality of the images constantly bombarding our minds, the minds of the younger generation and eventually the minds of our future children. We need to cut ourselves off as best we can from the blind and superficial belief that the products we buy, the clothes we wear and the way we look defines our self-worth. Furthermore, we must be aware of the consequences that could arise if we do not do so - another generation of depressed, carb-obsessed, broken people.
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