porcelaine
Posts: 5020
Joined: 7/24/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: sirsholly
having worked with eating disorder children/families...i have seen the danger that societies expectations of what the ideal female should look like can do to a young mind. Look at the covers of Cosmo, Glamor, and whatever else is promoting perfection these days. Look at the Barbie doll...totally unrealistic body type (her measurements were actually bizarre) yet she is promoted to be a fantasy for every little girl. Barbie had the perfect condo, sports car, and boyfriend. A little girl learns very early that perfection must be maintained to land a Ken. Look at the head lines of the gossip magazines if they happen to get a photo of a star who has gained 5 pounds or allows cellulite to be seen.
My issue is with the promotion of these women as ideal. And thank God the fashion industry has given in to the pressure of what it is costing societies young children.
with all due respect many things are marketed in our society, but since you chose to focus upon children, i'll respond to that instead. i speak from experience. i spent years working in a hospital and encountered those with eating disorders. i wasn't an adult when this occurred, but a teen myself with a real interest in medicine. i've seen quite a lot.
however, children have parents and they hold some accountability for the materials their children view. whether we reference television or other forms of media, the child is outside for a specific period of time and then inside the home. i didn't spend my early years digesting the magazines mentioned or idolizing videos either. but i did like barbie and i can admit some of your suggestions are correct, i'm not stating they aren't.
but i've also raised a daughter who grew up without the very things you've mentioned. she's a competitive athlete in a sport where a specific weight must be maintained. we had barbie in our home, but gi joe was also here as well. i paid close attention to what she was exposed to and monitored her viewing habits. developing a proper body image was enforced along with healthy eating habits.
she wasn't medicated, in therapy, or undergoing any of the things i read about. nor does she date, have sex, or indulge in illicit substances. she's far too concerned about making a difference, completing her education, and embarking on a career. rather than idolizing an image on a screen or magazine, she was groomed to leave a legacy.
children are vessels and we as parents have a direct impact on the contents that go within. while i find it unfortunate that any child has to live under those conditions, i place the responsibility in the lap of where it belongs - the parent. children can't raise themselves and perhaps if more time was invested in that act we'd have a different story to cite instead.
porcelaine
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His will; my fate.
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