How do you get across to young girls that they should love themselves&their bodies...BUT?

Question

at the same time be healthy about it? I know that weight problems among adolescents is getting higher, which is why Networks like Nickelodeon promote a get out and play type program where they don't show cartoons or any shows for a certain number of hours, and encourage youth to go out and get active. I think this is excellent. However, my question is, women and especially young girls have a distorted view of how their bodies should look and what the "perfect body" should look like, mainly in part due to the media. How do you tell young girls that okay, no you do NOT have to look like this; you should love your body no matter how it looks, but at the same time, get across the fact that certain weights and sizes are not good for the health?

By the way, am asking this in regards to a program being started here for younger girls.

Answer 1

You are right that the media contributes to the problem, but I think there is a huge area that many people miss when dealing with the body image issue.

PORNOGRAPHY - this more than anything gives men unrealistic ideas about what is beautiful and sexy. Women in turn know that men are expecting way too much so women push themselves too hard to acheive the perfect body that will please men.

That's why women feel pressured to take birth control and have abortions. It's because there are a lot of men out there who are demanding "porn sex" which is sex without fear of pregnancy or disease. Of course, pornography is just a big illusion. But it's a big money maker and men fall for it and are influenced by it.

Women are the ones who suffer.

So we've got to fight this battle on two fronts. Educate women AND men. Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty is pretty cool and it shows exactly what they do to a woman to make her "worthy" to appear on a magazine cover or billboard. Basically, they change almost everything about her appearance because they don't think it's good enough. Girls should be shown their methods so they know what they are seeing around them is NOT REAL.

And men need to be told pornography is harmful for both sexes. It degrades women and fills men's heads with false images of sex and beauty.

Men and women should also keep an open mind when watching TV and movies because the sexual relationships portrayed there are also "consequence free" which is nothing like reality. Every girl is pretty and has sex whenever she wants and never gets pregnant or an STD. These are realities that must be faced.

Best of luck with what you are doing. Thanks for your efforts to get the truth out!

Answer 2

From before I never thought I wouldn't like an older man. I say it's gross, because from then it's like doing my father. I learned a lot. Because I always wanted someone my age and not over the limit age. But I remember people will always say to me the age is just an number. It matters what the heart wants. I'm now 33 years old and realizing that I now liked older men. Think about it, now I felt guy's my age is just too immature. And cannot stand it.. I like guys only from 33 to 48! I will not go over for someone who is 60. No way!! 20 years apart is not a big deal for me anymore. To me is depending on the person. If she dosent show she likes you like that it's better off with someone who is over 23. Try look for someone who's in mid 30's. May change your life forever!!!

Answer 3

What a great question, er....topic to ponder. For me, it doesn't matter how many times I hear "love your body"....you know? What REALLY gets through to me is seeing, KNOWING, actual women who love their bodies.....who are comfortable in their own skin. It really sets an example to be around a woman who takes care of her body and doesn't project self-hate and criticism about her body. That kind of woman is really rare, but SO amazing to me.

Answer 4

I think you need to educate them as to what a healthy body should look like and open their eyes to the torture "image conscious" people, like fashion models, put themselves through. I'm sure there are plenty of horror stories out there.