Body Image...

For today's blog post, I wanted to talk about something a little different, something that matters. Most of you probably won't read all of this as it is quite long but it would be great if you shared it for other people too see. I want to talk about body image.

We all know the pressure that’s being forced onto teenagers to look a certain way nowadays. We all go through body insecurities at some point in our life; we understand how they feel. But in modern society with technology and media taking over our lives, the ‘perfect’ body criteria has reached breaking point. Take Kendall Jenner for example, the model of the moment, walking runways for the likes of Chanel and Marc Jacobs. Yet recently she has been demoted as ‘too fat’ for runway. Whilst walking for the prestigious Tommy Hilfiger runway earlier this year, she got slated for not being thin enough to model the clothes correctly. But, this was by the people watching the show and not by the designer. What message does that give teenagers about judgement over body types?

Even as little girls growing up, we are encouraged to play with Barbie dolls. At 5 years old, we are already building up an idea of the body we want, based on the dolls we play with. Although only a representation, if Barbie was real, her hips would be too small and not strong enough to carry a baby. Also, her legs would be so long and inadequately proportioned that her feet would lie flat on the floor. Is this really the body we are telling young girls they should aim for?

It is not only Barbie who create dolls like this, but it’s companies you would not expect, such as Disney. These dolls are very popular at the moment, especially from the hit movie, Frozen. These dolls are aimed at a much younger audience of 5-8 years. But at this age, children are easily influenced by people they admire. Many girls dream of being princesses and will go to great lengths to make this happen, but does this mean they need to skip a meal to achieve this?

Dolls in the shops are generic. They all look exactly the same as each other. You don’t see dolls that are a bit chubby round the edges or have stretch marks on their legs, things that every normal person has! Not only are we teaching girls that this is the body they should aim for, but we are teaching them that everyone else should look like that too. 

As young people, teenagers are always on the lookout for what is trendy and cool right now. This could be regarding what they wear, what they do or what they say. Why is it that body trends have now become popular too?

Thigh gaps have become the latest preferred goal. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s as obvious as it sounds. Your thigh fat does not touch when your legs are put together, resulting in a ‘gap’ in-between. This is supported in the modelling industry for photo-shoots and runways. Modelling experts are even starting to worry about Cara Delevingne’s career in the business due to the loss of her thigh gap. Although, she has now become a role model due to being more body confident and for not necessarily following body trends.

This trend has resulted in many girls starving themselves in the hope of achieving this look. What people don’t know is that a thigh gap is not based on how skinny you are, but based on how wide your hips are, making this unachievable for many.

95% of teenagers think they are fat, don't you think there is something wrong with that? It's because we live in a society full of pre-conceived ideas and judgements, constantly pressurising people to look and act a certain way. 

It doesn't matter what shape or size you come in, just be you thats what counts.

We should be teaching teenagers the importance of having a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle to achieve the body they want; the healthy way is always the best way. But equally, shouldn’t we be telling them that it is okay to look how you look and that you should never change based on current trends.

Everyone is different but it is our individuality that makes us who we are. 

Smile and be happy within yourself, it doesn't matter if you are not what society deems as being 'perfect' because 'perfect' doesn't exist.

Ellie xxx