Over the last decade, the portrayal of women in the media has drastically shifted. Consider popular TV shows, movies or other social stimuli, in them can be found an array of complexions, shapes, and sizes. It’s quite refreshing to witness such widespread acceptance of diversity especially recognizing America is a melting pot of ethnicities. Although racial divides still exist, in this regard, this at least demonstrates they are being blotted out. Despite the range of differences on display, there is strangely still present a superficial need to “fit into a mold.”
With our lips, we boast “I’m different” proudly reaffirming our liberties to be as unhinged as we want. Yet our futile and sometimes deadly attempts to mimic others proves to contradict our words.
My very first iPhone camera came filter free, this is now a staple in any smartphone. Photoshopping one’s pictures are no longer shunned, “it’s an app for that” so it’s promoted. The demand for a PSEUDO SOCIETAL PERFECTION has driven marketers and developers to feed our vanity.
IDEALS SURROUNDING BEAUTY
Many people have been and will be affected by this. The victims don’t just consist of one racial group, neither does it affect only the young. The mature are NOT exempt from its deceit. It is not isolated to one country. It goes beyond the borders of America and our westernized culture. The appeal is so subtle that it leaves no one safe from its seduction.
In 2009, former Miss Argentina 1994 Solange Magnano died of complications after cosmetic surgery. Just a few years later in 2011, Sharyska Nuby of Florida died after a body enhancing procedure. In 2013, Suyima Torres a 28-year-old mother left behind two children, after her death, which was also preceded by a cosmetic augmentation. Asides from their untimely deaths in combination with beauty procedures, WHAT DO ALL THESE WOMEN HAVE IN COMMON? These women, each of different ages, backgrounds, and races were seeking to enhance their bodies…particularly their derrières.
AN EPIDEMIC IS CHARACTERIZED AS AN OUTBREAK OR WIDESPREAD OCCURENCE OF SOMETHING, IN MOST CASES THIS SOMETHING IS HARMFUL. AN EPIDEMIC IS LIKE AN EXPLOSION OF RAPID SPREAD, EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT.
The root of the word epidemic come from the Greek language. EPI means on or at, while DEMOS means people. Suddenly this unnatural, distorted, cookie cutter self-image ideal has come upon us and at the cost of our self-esteem.
Flickr/AlexSubers – Iggy Azalea
Over the past several years the attention to a woman’s backside has become increasingly popular. Consider Australian native Iggy Azalea and New Yorker Nicki Minaj, they both are from two different countries and of different races, but their curvaceous shapes are virtually identical.
Flickr/CayRhi – Nicki Minaj
Women have died to have their shapes. However, with the widely popular use of body shapers and enhancers, one no longer has to subject themselves to the risk of the knife. In a snap, a woman can have the “perfect” figure, out of proportion posterior and all, but at what cost?
There’s no risk of death here, but have we considered the risk to our self-esteem? If adults fall prey to this epidemic daily and we are to set an example for those looking up to us, how can we expect for them to stand against the pressure when we can’t?
Tigger11th via freedigitalphotos.net
THE OBSESSION OVER ANATOMY
Want a bigger butt…buy one! You can wear it all day, bask in the attention you receive from it and boost the “picture of pretty” you have concerning your personal image. But what happens when you come home, take it off and stand in front of a mirror...
By day, you boost yourself up, while at night you sin against yourself. WHAT SIN AND HOW DO I SIN AGAINST MYSELF? The sin is the atrocity of tearing yourself down. You essentially are destroying your own image of worth and value. You bring yourself up just to bring yourself down. When you look in the mirror after removing the mask you still are who you are and those desires to fit in will never be gratified.
BEAUTY DOESN’T LAST FOREVER WHETHER IT’S AUTHENTIC OR YOU PAY FOR IT.
When do we say enough is enough and truly embrace our images, not just with empty words but with an unspoken confidence? Sure it’s easy to get caught in the allure, but YOU ARE CREATED TO STAND OUT, FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND NOT THE OUTSIDE IN. The content of your heart and your character is what matters most.
Someone complimented me on my appearance once. I responded thank you and I try not to get caught up in compliments. They questioned why and I responded with, to allow others to build my esteem gives them the power to break it. What others think of you is beautiful, but it’s not the end all or be all.
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