Skinny Here We Come Analysis

Isabela Caballero
Mr. Nunez
English 10A Honors
Period 4
14 November 2014
Skinny or Not, Here We Come Teens, young children, and even female adults are hassled daily by the “perfect body” image. This issue is affecting women of all ages causing multiple mental and health problems. Major reasons for this dispute are social-medias, mothers, and peers. Teenage girls and other females are corrupt, believing they are full of imperfections, and only seeing the bad parts of them. At one point or another, almost all females begin to hate their bodies. As a teen female, I have experienced insecurities with my own body. For many years, I had suffered, as I watch the thin, beautiful girls, knowing I could never look like them. Fortunately, I have
many supporters in my life now that make me feel comfortable with my body and I want other girls to know they should not have to be diffident. Currently, there are help-lines, youth groups, and counseling available for all females. However, females of all ages should have access to these resources; there should be more support obtainable. For instance, all schools should create honorary clubs to bring awareness to the entire student body. For older females, larger counseling centers that focus on the issue of body image should be a priority.
Literature Review In “Skinny Sweepstakes,” the writer, Hara Estroff Marano, addresses the issue of the body image of teenage girls claiming the perfect body image dominates teens, who turn to disorders as a crutch. Marano states a fact that deprivation of mentoring adults weakens the young, causing them to become socially and emotionally fragile, and distressed with their bodies. This ethical claim demonstrates the rush of misery that come with anorexia, bulimia, alcohol, other drug abuse, and suicide. According to statistics, approximately 40% of females experience an eating disorder sometime during their college experience. Students compare themselves to their peers with the help of outside society and social media. The students fight for social acceptance, outweighing the body over the mind. Students search for a stable identity, creating a challenge for themselves. Kate Palmer, 17 years of age, shares as anecdote about her eating habits taking control of her life. Her academic pressure was intense, as she was class valedictorian until her father died and grief undertook her. Kate’s eating behaviors became the least complicated part of her life, and she created boundaries for her consumption. She grew into a new mindset of fewer calories meant less weight. Kate and her mother soon created competitions of who was thinner; it was a true weight obsession ruled by fear. Courtney Martin, author of Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, expresses her export opinion on young women pursuing perfection causing anxiety from negative comparisons. Martin takes concern in the rising rate of suicides from ages 10 to 14, which proves the achievement pressure anxiety and fat fear. Children cannot have these fears taken care of because anxiety has also caught parents. In “Body Image at age 9,” the author, Nando Pelusi, Ph. D, target the issue of a 9 year old believing she is fat claiming she is too young to be comparing herself and may eventually grow out of this mentality. Pelusi articulates her expert opinion stating young children who are concerned with their body weight will more than likely outgrow their anxieties. Pelusi’s ethical advice is children are likely reacting to peer-pressure making themselves conscious of their bodies. Children who express their concern of their body image are not expected to have a true dysmorphic disorder. Pelusi also explains children that compare themselves to others lead to their negative outbursts. Young females see other girls at school or on TV and think, “She’s perfect, while I’m fat.” These kids need to develop self-acceptance and to challenge flawless body images. Nando Pelusi acknowledges the fact that young children are less likely fully to adopt destructive messages than of adolescents. Young children are not as troubled with what is playing on TV and what they hear talking to their friends while teens are usually more disturbed and will become members of disorders.
In “Fulfillment at Any Age,” the writer, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.
D, discourses the subject of fat-talk and self-image-claiming talking oneself into feeling fat can be harmful to one’s mental health. Whitbourne states women naturally engage in “fat-talk.” Women share their concerns about their weight with other girls. Ultimately, they lower their own self-esteem but as expected, they still participate in fat talk. When combined, low self-esteem and negative body image put women at risk of depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. In a case study researched in Northwestern University, psychologist, Rachel Hannah Salk, studied women as others begin talking about their weight i.e. fat talk. In an experiment consisting of college students dissatisfied with their bodies, it was found that fat talk was contagious. In the experiment, it was also found women who participated in fat talk felt worse and guiltier about themselves. These levels of embarrassments increased level of depression, mental health problems, and risk of eating
disorders.
In “Obsessed,” the author, Katie Abbondanza, addresses the problem of teenage girls’ obsession with their own body image claiming teens need a new mindset and that bad body image is inevitable. Lori Osachy, an eating disorder expert and director of The Body Image Counseling Center in Jacksonville, Fla., says the occasional negative thought is “a normal part of growing up.” Osachy’s ethical claim supports one cannot always stay happy with her body all the time when our bodies are changing constantly. Criticism is never ending but torment could have been avoided if one was satisfied. Osachy also warns over-obsessing over superficial flaws can make girls undergo extreme things. Some tendencies may be skipping meals, bingeing, or purging. Once these become habits, long-term issues could include, heart problems, loss of bone density, tooth erosion, and possibly addictions to drugs and alcohol. Based on the poll question, “What is causing so many girls to bash their bods?” seventy percent of Girls Life readers blamed media i.e. TV, movies or magazines. When teens are faced with these images, they create an ideal body in their head. It is nearly impossible for average people to achieve the “ideal body” without help from personal trainers, stylists, and Photoshop. In “Under the Influence,” The writer, Audrey D. Brashich, targets the issue of teens facing the pressures to have a perfect body claiming mothers are to blame for their teens being miserable with their bodies. The pressure to be perfect, especially concerning bodily, has never been as intense as it is now. Research has shown 68% of girls believe being thin is the key to popularity, an all-time high. Gossip magazines follow A-listers, discussing their bodies and eating habits regularly. People have the mentality that celebrities are “just like us,” and they try living up to Hollywood standards. On reality TV, celebrities seem to be fixing all their problems with surgery, diets, and exercise causing both mothers and daughters to crave perfection. Kaitlyn M., 17, expresses an anecdote regarding her mother. Kaitlyn’s mother turned to eating disorders to cope with grief. Kaitlyn adopted her mother’s terrible eating habits. Kaitlyn is as miserable as her mother is, now weighing 220 lbs. In Dr. Zechkausen, Ph. D, author of The Ultimate Tween Survival Guide to Eating Disorders states mothers are the most influential on daughter’s attitudes and behaviors regarding body image.
Analysis/ Recommendation
Overall, women, children, and adolescents experience various insecurities regarding their body image.
When women are in the situation of hating their physique, they develop harmful mental and health difficulties. It is surprising to know the major obsession some teens develop from not being confident with their bodies. It is even more of disbelief to learn the role mothers play in their daughter’s mindset. It is important to acquire this type of knowledge of the females mind apropos their body image and to understand.
All females should have access to the help necessary for their individual. Schools, communities, other public affiliations ought to work together to make females contented. A new program for all females should be essential in our communities. It should begin with a club that is present in every city throughout the county, region, state, and nation. This club will be titled, “Girl-Talk.” Girl-Talk will consist of females of all ages that will participate in group-activities and talks that make women feel important and are no longer apprehensive of their body image. Girl-Talk will meet weekly to share their feelings and lives with other women. This program will be free and run off donations from donors and community funds. Females from across the county, region, state, or nation could take part in an annual rally, as
well.