Unrealistic images

From the covers of magazines to the models seen on T.V., it is undeniable that there is an immense amount of pressure placed on teens to look a certain way. These pressures range from hair styles and makeup necessities, to name brand clothing articles that every closet must contain if acceptance and popularity is to be achieved.

Though the burden of looking a certain way can be stressful enough for many adolescence, there are other epidemics of negative self image that come in much more dangerous forms. Eating disorders have plagued generations young and old for years. Anyone of any age can develop an eating disorder, but there seems to be a prevalence of teens and young adults who show signs of negative self-image.

It is safe to assume the pressure to be “fit and thin” comes from the persistency of acceptance clichés and what is deemed correct in appearance.

Our society undeniably encourages people to look a certain way. These encouragements are not always spoken outwardly, but are pressed upon impressionable teens and young adults through images of photo-shopped and modified models, setting an unrealistic bar of physicality expectations.

The pressures to look a certain way can result in the exercise of dangerous measures taken to maintain an accepted image. Two of the most common eating disorders in teens and young adults are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

With anorexia, victims see themselves as overweight when they are actually quite skinny. They starve themselves in an attempt to maintain a level of socially accepted thinness and ultimately end up hurting their bodies. Bulimia is characterized as consuming usually high amounts of food, then compensating for it by purging, fasting or exercising excessively.

Both disorders have a high potential of damaging the body, but for people who are going through them, the persistent pressures society throws make it seem as if body image is one of the most important things in life. This agonizing desire to look a certain way can completely consume all other important aspects of life.

Finding a solution to body image epidemics immediately could be considered far-fetched. However, progress has been and can be made regarding the ways in which we view positive appearance.

19 year old singer, and actress Zendaya is a prime advocate to positive body image. In an instagram post, Zendaya placed a photoshopped picture of herself from a recent shoot next to the original, untouched version. The caption under the picture read “I found my 19 year old hips and torso quite manipulated. These are the things that make women self conscious, that create unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have.