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Girls and Body Image
Filed under: Media, Expert Advice: Tweens, Expert Advice: Teens
There's no denying that our media and culture are obsessed with women's looks. Credit: Getty Images
Why body image matters for girls
There's no denying that our media and culture are obsessed with women's looks. Magazines have weekly features with names like "body watch" that criticize female celebrities for being too heavy or too thin. Television and movie stars showcase unrealistic body types that most girls can't copy without hurting themselves. Ads tell girls that with the right beauty products, they can get their hair or makeup just right.
This messaging teaches girls what it means to be normal or beautiful at a time in their lives when they are looking for role models and guidance on how to present themselves. But when girls compare themselves to their favorite stars, they usually feel that they don't measure up. The results are lower self-confidence and self-esteem, which can lead girls to become obsessed with changing the way they look.
Talking to girls about their bodies is one of the hardest things parents can do -- but the constant bombardment of messages about desirable weight and appearance makes this discussion crucial.
Parents of sons should also pay attention to media messages about appearance: Eating disorders do happen to boys as well, though not as often. Boys also need to be raised to understand the almost-unattainable ideals of beauty that our media broadcasts to them at every turn so that they don't judge girls unrealistically.
The facts
- Teen girls who read magazine articles about dieting were more likely five years later to practice extreme weight-loss measures, like vomiting after eating (University of Minnesota, 2007).
- At 17, the average girl has seen more than 250,000 commercials aimed at her looks (Harris Interactive Poll, 2007).
- Anorexia impacts as many as 10 million women in the United States (National Eating Disorders Association, 2010).
- 60% of preteens and teens feel that they weigh too much, and that their lives would be improved if they could reach their goal weight (Pangea Media, 2009).
- Watch what you say. When you spend a lot of time talking about dieting or criticizing your own body, your daughter is listening. You are still your daughter's biggest role model. If you take care of yourself, you will help your kids appreciate all that our bodies can do.
- If your kids are struggling with body image, you might share your own insecurities and how you dealt with them. You want your kids to know you understand. After all, this is just the beginning of a life-long dialogue.
- Keep girls active. Get them involved in sports and healthy lifestyles. Find ways to do these activities together.
- Don't stress weight, stress health.
- Make sure she knows she's more than just a pretty face. Placing less emphasis on how girls look helps them value themselves in broader ways later in life. Compliment your daughter on all of her wonderful talents like her creativity or thoughtfulness.
- Offer other role models. Get your two cents in about who your girls idolize or find pretty in the media and why. Without being heavy handed, talk about different people you find beautiful who are all different body types and say why.
- Help your kid become a media critic. Pay attention to ads, magazine covers, billboards – and talk to your kids about how these messages make you feel and ask them about their own reactions.
- Expose the myths. Make sure that kids know that celebrities have stylists, hairdressers, personal trainers, and more -- all working to make them look polished. Point out that pictures in magazines have been altered to make models look flawless -- and impossibly thin. Even better, show them just how much work goes into a cover shot by watching the short "Evolution" film produced by the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. It's available online.
- Talk about the health consequences of eating disorders. Your kids will likely know someone with anorexia or bulimia. Ask them about their reactions. Point out that these are illnesses, not defects, and that their friends need help. If your child has one of these disorders, it could be a life-threatening illness and you should consult a medical professional immediately.
- Don't bug kids about their weight -- stress health and fitness instead. This is a time for packing on the pounds since many stop having such active lives. Get your child up and moving by taking a walk, doing a sport, or taking a class at the gym together! Use media examples of stars who are toned to show how much work goes into looking the way they do.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-25-2011 @ 8:42AM
Roger Olson said...Remember that boys can have body image problems as well. Ten percent of people diagnosed with eating disorders are males. Probably more suffer from them, but males are less likely to self-identify. I notice that every year during eating disorders month we hear only about girls and women. I also notice that most of your parenting tips that are gender specific are about girls. Why not publish more about boys?
Reply
2-24-2011 @ 10:41PM
Alicia said...Before you freak out, look back a day or two and there IS an article about boys and body image.
2-24-2011 @ 5:27PM
XxRosexOfxSharyn said...All I ever hear about are girls being pressured to be thin, well that's not what I experienced. I have always been very thin and small in general height, weight and figure and was constantly bullied about that! Being called flat chested with no curves and being accused of having an eating disorder when I never have. Guys grow up thinking little middle school and high school girls are “ugly freaks” if they don’t have a body like Beyonce and girls think it’s ok to pick on other girls if you don’t at least have the same kind of body they have. I think the main thing I remember about looking at ads in magazines was the fact that they never have acne like I did and a lot of other people do when they’re those ages. Obviously now I know what airbrushing and photoshop are.
Reply
2-25-2011 @ 11:57AM
Heather said...I've never struggled with body image issues as a young teen, it actually hit me at the very age I'm at now...19!
It's hard being a young adult and having the petite frame of somebody much younger. You just want to feel womanly, you know? Especially with the "real women have curves" chant going about.
We need to start promoting good health and body type awareness!
That way there may be less pressure to look a certain way and girls can start to appreciate the body types they've been given.
Reply
2-24-2011 @ 8:37PM
Hooper said...You are so right Heather! My youngest daughter is 22, very petite (barely 5ft. and weighs 90 lbs.) and is constantly being mistaken for someone much younger. She ignores it now, but when she was in her teens it really bothered her. I aways tell her she will appreciate looking young when she gets old - she always rolls her eyes and laughs. One thing though, I believe the "real women have curves" thing is more directed toward making those of us who have curves feel a little better about not being really thin. The whole modeling/movie industry is full of crap anyway. I say let everyone be who they are, be healthy as possible and close your ears to negative comments from insecure people.
2-24-2011 @ 8:44PM
Hooper said...What size clothes you wear is not a good measure of health (if you are 6ft tall and wear a 16 whats the big deal) but I get you. Children, teenagers, everybody should be encouraged to eat healthy and exercise, and not even think about what size their pants are!
Reply
2-25-2011 @ 11:07PM
Roger Olson said...Okay, I'll try not to freak out. :) But right above my comment on this blog (about the emphasis always being mostly about parenting girls) was four ads for videos about girls. Not one about boys. As I look back through past articles and videos here I see most are about girls. Why not as many about boys?
Reply