Does she see her own beauty?
Not long ago, a woman's success was measured by the success of her husband and her domestic prowess. Today, a woman is presumed successful if she can emulate the standards of beauty portrayed in the media. Unfortunately, this subliminally enforced standard is unattainable to some women, regardless of the quality of their character. The media has played a large part in how western women went from being pioneering superheroes, to people who measure their worth against airbrushed photographs of impossibly beautiful women.
Timeline
People have used women in print media to sell their products since the mid-19th century. The women in the ads were portrayed with thin waists, large breasts and stylish clothing. As the roaring 1920s moved in, American women scored voting rights and birth control. Due to World War I, it became necessary for women to work. The print world began to portray women in a boyish, sexy fashion. Hemlines rose for sex appeal. Breasts were bound so women did not appear too feminine in the work-place. Hair was cut shorter for convenience and the flapper-girl was born.
The 1930s and 1940s popularized the pin up girl. Traditionally, the pin-ups were heavy breasted, meatier than the flapper and scantily clad. Some pin-ups were printed to advertise products, while others were printed as calendars or centerfolds for the soldiers serving in World War II. Pin-up icons, such as Marilyn Monroe, began their careers this way. As of 2010, these women still set the par for American beauty standards.
The 1950s introduced the American housewife. Women in print ads were portrayed in a wholesome, Donna Reed, manner. They had the figures of a pin-up, but these figures were covered with dainty house-dresses.
Health and Beauty
During the 1960s and 1970s, models like Twiggy appeared everywhere. Women in print looked thin to the point of illness. The hippie movement, and the fashions that came with it, did nothing to stop this standard. Hippies ate when they could, and were almost always thin. In the early 1980's, AIDS reared its ugly head. The general population believed that if a person was thin, he or she may have the virus. The media began looking for healthier women to use to sell products. In the 1980s, the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency found Gia Carangi, the first supermodel. Gia sported a healthy, yet sexy appearance. Sadly, Gia needed to use drugs to deal with the pressures of maintaining perfection. Intravenous drug use led to her tragic death. On November 18, 1986, 26 year old Gia died of AIDS-related pneumonia.
Social Status
Today, print ads feature women with obvious social status. Veneers over teeth, name-brand from head to toe, all of these features let the outsider know that this girl has money. Naturally, girls do not want to be labeled as poor, so they strive for the features of the women they see on the magazines.
The modern portrayal of women in the print media often portrays women in a subservient manner. For instance, you may never see a male model in a bikini, provocatively eating a chicken salad. Likewise, you will be hard pressed to find an ad with a female model portraying a CEO, unless the model appears matronly. This dynamic sends two messages to the public; beautiful women cannot be smart, and matronly women cannot be beautiful. Therefore, impressionable young girls will opt to be sexy, and in turn, labeled stupid.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
The Mayo Clinic Website uses the terms "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" and "Imaginary Ugliness" interchangeably. Culture is listed as one of the primary causes of BDD. American girls are inundated with media portraying unattainable standards of beauty. Unfortunately, BDD often leads to more serious conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and increased suicide risk.
Raising Confident Daughters
It is every parent's responsibility to help these girls understand that the women in print ads spend hours in makeup, and that the photographs are almost always airbrushed to achieve that look. It is most important to teach your daughters that content of character will get you much further in life than physical beauty. Everyone gets old, if they are lucky. When this happens, the beauty within will make her attractive.
Tags: almost always, beautiful women, Body Dysmorphic, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Dysmorphic Disorder, pin-ups were, standards beauty