Why are teenagers these days so hung up about looks? weight? how they dress? Are our schools encouraging low s

Question

by the time we get to HS we are supposed to be positive, motivated, respectful, caring, nurturing individuals so that when we finish HS we could go out into the world and set a good example and be leaders!

Answer 1

I wouldn't blame the schools - unless the staff is encouraging it. Children of all ages learn from what they see. What are their families showing that is important in life? Are the parents, etc. into brand names? Sibllings? eg... Do people make comments while in the car, at the supper table etc.... Did you see what I saw today? Or look at what she's wearing!
When raising my daughters, I had a low budget, so they each got a new outfit for the first day or 1/2 day of school. Then in about Oct., when things were cheaper, and the kids had a chance to see what 'the others are wearing', we would go shopping. Even at 10 years old, it is amazing how many 'cheap' tops they would get- instead of the expensive 'Name Brands'. When jeans got to be $80.00, I would pay $40. for 'regular jeans'- they could top it off with their own money, to get brand names if they wanted. When they got a concept of money - I'd give each one $200.00 cash- they could do what they wanted - it is a painful lesson to watch (and keep your mouth shut) but I feel it really prepared my daughters for reality spending. And they liked doing their own laundry- no 'Pink Whites' that way! They also found out that if they re-used school supplies, they had more clothing money! Sometimes they would share the cost of maybe a sweater, and share the sweater, or whatever they bought. I hope this helps you deal with it--- it's hard, and I feel parents need to lead by example.

Answer 2

Yes, in an ideal world kids in junior high and high school wouldn't care about looks, weight or how they dress. This is not an ideal world. America is very centered around what celebrities are wearing and how much they weigh. Some of us don't care, but to an impressionable teenager it might mean a lot. There is also the issue of peer pressure. It's awfully hard to think you're attractive if someone has called you fat or too skinny, especially if your parents haven't taken the time to help you build a positive self image.

Answer 3

I agree, but this is the way it has been for hundreds of years. In high school, pretty is power. That's why I hate the media, TV, Paris Hilton, etc. They glamorize looks and stupidity, and we all know that after we toss our graduation caps in the air, you better have more then a pretty face to get you through life. Being a teenager is all about finding out about yourself and who you are and more importantly where you fit into this huge planet! Why do you think there are clicks? You got you preps, jocks, burn-outs, geeks, goths, good lord.....the list goes on and on!! Everyone wants to be noticed, and feel important. And unfortunately, a lot of kids base their importance on how they look. This will never change. It's neat, though, that you are paying attention to this matter. Because it is discouraging to watch your friends get so wrapped up in themselves, that they begin to miss the big picture. To enjoy life and living! High school is suppose to be the most fun part of you life and experience things! And it sounds as though you have a good head on you shoulders and that your right on track. Keep that attitude, and you'll succeed! You already are a leader......

Answer 4

We live in a society where beauty is what covers the pages of playboy and vogue and walks down the red carpet. It's a beauty that's so exaggerated that even the women in those pictures don't look like that. (a vast majority of them are altered in one way or another - airbrushing, 5 layers of makeup etc) and the ones that aren't have usually had some sort of plastic surgery.

Girls are shown this idea of beauty at an early age as being the ideal that you have to strive for and unfortunately, unless you have a personal trainer, hair stylist, makeup artist, professional photographer and airbrusher walking around as your personal entourage, it's not really realistic.

They also learn from watching us. We diet constantly and primp in front of the mirror, fixing our hair and doing our makeup until we reach an acceptable reflection and sometimes we then complain about one thing or the other being wrong with us and they learn by example.

Boys are also taught that having a hard body is more desirable than even just being average. Boys who are thin and boys who are fat both have self esteem issues.

I know a lot of guys who like women who are real, natural and/or have some meat on their bones. I've even known guys who like big women. But you don't hear about these guys too often because they are taught that there's something wrong with them if they like a woman that's not a supermodel.

I dont know. It's an ongoing problem and the only real way to combat it is to learn to love yourself for the way you are, no matter what size, shape, height, hair color, skin color.

Not much to do about it except to realize that everyone is beautiful as they are.

Answer 5

The media and our own social acceptance of things different. I went to HS almost 20 yrs ago and it was like that then. If you didnt have loafers and a poloshirt you were uncool. As teenagers we are under alot of pressure, to fit in and find ourselves and make our parents happy. Our outward appearence is the one thing that we can control and like I wrote before the media is to blame for what we think we should look like.

Answer 6

teenagers spend 90% of their time watching TV . . and that's what corrupts their minds to think that they have to be the "perfect size 5" in order to be beautiful . . . I don't think schools encourage low self-esteem . . by the time teenagers get to HS, they are so set in their ways that they don't want to hear anything that goes against what they already believe . . .

Answer 7

I believe the media is to blame for that- pick up just about any magazine or watch any celeb show on TV and take a look at what these kids are looking up to. One female celeb is getting a pat on the back because she just lost 6 pounds, making her 94 pounds at 5'8'', and bashing the girl who is probably still below average weight about her weight

Answer 8

I really think our society over the last 20 years is focused too much on stuff. When I was little (jesus I'm only 30) my parents took really good care of us but we didn't have Brand name stuff. We didn't have our own phones, and God forbid we should even think of having a TV in our bedroom.

Literally kids today have too much crap. They've got TV's by the time their 2, brand name clothes their entire life, cell phones by the time they hit grade school... and cash cash cash.

My husband and I went to a friends house for their little boys B-Day party. We weren't sure what to get him so we got a nice card and gave him $20.00 to get a game or toy or whatever. In front of his parents he picked it up, looked at us, and said, "$20.00? Grandma gave me $50.00, where's the rest of it?"

I about fell out of my chair! His mom didn't say a thing. Blows my mind...

Answer 9

have you seen the stick figure skeletor looking things in the media?thats number one. and as far as im concerned its adults fault also. lots and lots of mommys are obsessed with dieting and losing weight. that cant put a very good message in the mind of a child or teenager when the only thing moms concerned with is being skinny.its the parents job to teach their children that celebrity isnt realistic - but how can they when they think it is too?

Answer 10

I don't know what school you went to--but my high school was the same. People were superficial and cared about that kind of stuff. I think college is when people start becoming positive people. High School is always rough and hard to cope with. Don't you remember your high school years?