Judith Ortiz Cofer's The Story Of My Body

Society and peers are judgmental with one's skin color, size, looks and even intelligence starting in adolescence. Children are judged by if one is ‘wearing glasses, they must be smart’ or ‘one is tall so they must play volleyball.’ Society should not judge a child based on their looks especially since they have not developed their identity. Judith Ortiz Cofer, author of “The Story of My Body” published in The Latin Deli in 1993, shares her story of dealing with self-image and finding her identity, "My skin color, my size and my appearance were variables - things that were judged according to my current self-image, the aesthetic values of the times, the places I was in, and the people I met". (page 341) The author tries to create a space for discussion than answering questions on identity formation. While I was growing up, I experienced the similar self-image issues regarding height. It was a constant reminder that I was different when I wanted to fit in with my classmates. Every day young girls and boys experience body shaming or prejudice whether
During the teen years, girl’s bodies are changing at a fast rate. I was beginning to compare myself to the celebrities. According to a body image study published by Common Sense Media, Children, Teens, Media and Body Image, "teens who are active online worry a lot about how they are perceived." Another study by Keep it Real Campaign found that eighty percent of ten-year old American girls have been on a diet. Online teens are getting like votes on Instagram or Facebook, if the teen feels there is not enough votes, it's not good enough and deletes the picture. Teens are wanting feedback on how to improve their online image. Victoria’s Secret tries to sell a certain body, as most of their models are tall and thin. I am tall but thick because of the muscle I have gained through