Women have sought after physical perfection since the beginning of time. In early Chinese societies women tied up their feet to stunt their growth because small feet were a valued standard of beauty. For decades European and early twentieth century American women squeezed their waists into constricting corsets. Aside from crippling foot pain, and fainting spells from lack of oxygen, these women suffered from the same self-hate that plagues women today.
There is nothing new about our recent commitment to achieving ultimate beauty by “body sculpting,” tummy tucking and fat sucking. Too many girls and women, insecure about their noses, lips, hips, breasts and thighs, rely on plastic surgeons to “fix” what God created. Breast implants are the graduation present of choice for a rising number of teen girls and their parents. But does the popularity of this disturbing trend make it acceptable?
No.
Across America, girls are being taught to hate themselves from mothers who support spending a couple thousand dollars to boost self-esteem. The worship of the size one jeans has thousands of women paying surgeons to stick a vacuum in their stomachs, thighs and buttocks.
Am I the only person who has a problem with this? How can we raise children who love themselves if we don’t love ourselves? I don’t know about you, but I learned self-love from my mother.
My mother rarely puts on more than lipstick for special occasions and taught me that I don’t need makeup to be beautiful, either.
Many women are too greatly influenced by television and movies, but any self-assured woman knows that she’s perfect just the way she is. Why should my nose be the same size as Jada Pinkett-Smith’s? Why do I have to wear the same bra cup size as Tyra Banks?
I don’t and I won’t.
Societies will always project unattainable standards of beauty toward its women. Nevertheless, it’s our duty to love ourselves enough to go against society and teach our daughters that God didn’t make any mistakes.
Marie Frasier, 21, is a junior English student from Columbus, Ohio. She is the Opinions Editor and can be reached at famuanopinions@hotmail.com.