Body Image Standards

“One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are ‘unhappy with their bodies’. This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen” (Body 1).The growing figure of women with body dissatisfaction correlates with the rising statistics of girls developing eating disorders. The source of this unhappiness comes from, “images in the media today [that] project an unrealistic and even dangerous standard of feminine beauty that can have a powerful influence on the way women view themselves. From the perspective of the mass media, thinness is idealized and expected for women to be considered attractive’” (Serdar 2).The media's portrayal of gaunt images must cease. To resolve this dispute, companies can change the standard of the models
Food, attire and even toy companies have standards to what they use for advertising and how an individual looks. A fair example would be the toy company Mattel and their famous toy, Barbie. The original Barbie Doll has a slim figure, a model height, platinum blonde hair and tan skin, yet this doll is one of the most popular toys given to young children. As of January 2016 Mattel introduced new barbies with different body shapes, which will increase diversity in the toy industry. A copious amount of adults and physicians “have complained that too many dolls, models and even clothing companies conform to an extremely thin, even anorexic body type...” (Abrams 6). To address this rising controversy in society, “Mattel unveiled curvy, petite and tall versions of its iconic fashion doll whose unrealistically thin shape has attracted criticism for decades”(Abrams 2). The fact that Mattel’s Barbie is being revolutionized after so many years with that body, just stands to show how other companies can change their standards too. A trifling amount of clothing companies have started to recognize the growing industry for plus-size women, while others have avoided the trend. Millions of apparel brands lack a section for plus size clothing, and a few popular industries currently brought about change. Forever 21 has launched a new clothing line called Faith 21, which features
If parents around the globe can positively strengthen the way that girls see bodies then the figure of women trying to lose weight will decrease, and the number of young ladies with congenial body image should increase. As young women go through puberty, bodies change and one may not know how to deal with the mental and physical effects. Fear of further weight gain could develop, and girls might attempt to lose weight (Serdar 2). By encouraging girls not to compare themselves, and to see the uniqueness in all shapes, self-image in a righteous manner can rise. Beauty is not the number on a scale or a certain dress size, true beauty is being happy with and honoring one’s