The first scene that I noticed was with the anorexic black girl—and I'm not using the term 'anorexic' as an exaggeration, this person looked like she should be at a treatment center. In other words, she was literally skin and bones, it was absolutely disgusting. But what really concerns me is the sort of message this sends to people, especially younger women. A show like this is apparently endorsing anorexia, and subliminally telling woman who aspire to be 'beautiful' that they need to be as well. All of the woman on this show appear to be sporting unhealthy body-types, and I would say they all are involved in very unhealthy eating habits (starving and/or bulimia).
The general point of the goofy-ass reality show is to make girls dream/aspire to become models, right (in the way it is glorified)? Regardless of whatever strategy the models on the show used to attain such body-types, they are sending the message that they are the ideal of outer-beauty. The majority of woman want to reach the ideal of beauty. The only way any ordinary, healthy woman can achieve such an ideal is to engage in dangerous, unhealthy behaviors. Luckily most women don't go to such lengths, but they can still be harmed emotionally by such ideas (which I'll get into later in the post).
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the makers of this show don't intend it to be an anorexic freak show (only reason it caught my attention). But, a show that promotes models with such body types also promotes the behavior that is responsible for them. Which is why it and all endorsements of anorexia should be banned from the public eye (magazines, television, internet, etc.)
Anorexia/bulimia is much unhealthier than smoking is, yet cigarette companies are banned from advertising in the way the modeling industry is able to. Psychologically and physically, garbage shows like America's next top model can be much more damaging than cigarettes could ever be (which should be obvious). Many girls today, and in the past, have had unrealistic standards for what is considered 'beautiful'. It's obvious that they get such ideas, in large, from watching television and looking at magazines (and/or are bullied by those that do). In my opinion both the problem of bulimia and/or anorexia is caused by the modeling industry labeling anorexic body-types as the ideal. Here are a few videos of the 'damage' I am referring to...
Anorexia - not so glamorous
Family Struggles to Understand Death of Bulimic Teen
what's wrong with society
We need some regulation here (both for the sake of the consumer and models themselves). I believe all models should be required to register with a government-health organisation and have regular check-ups to ensure healthy, normal body weight. Also, photo editors should no longer be able to utilize Photoshop and/or any program to alter the image to make the models appear thinner. All images that are wished to be used should first have to pass a certain standard set by an overseeing agency to prevent harmful messaging.
We need to realize that, like we can put unhealthy things into our bodies, we can put unhealthy thoughts into our minds. Currently in our society, corporations within the context of this subject are brain-washing women into having a poor self-image, which in-turn causes women to read their magazines and use their beauty products. If all women had a healthy self-esteem when it comes to body image, the modelling and beauty industry in general would be gutted. These industries seem to have a philosophy that if they present unrealistic body-types, along with woman with abnormally attractive faces etc. (in regards to symmetry and complexion), that women will lower how they view themselves. This will create motivation to improve—generating more interest in the modeling industry and beauty products. It should make people sick knowing the strategic forces behind how these industries make their money. But they can't be blamed completely, money tends to make people heartless tools. It is our society in general which should be blamed, we should be preventing self-destructive ideas from entering the heads of the impressionable (primarily young women in this case), but we currently don't. We allow these slimy businesses to psychologically damage women so that they can make a buck.
The damage caused runs much deeper than the crushing of confidence and self-esteem of woman. It makes woman think about physical appearance excessively—distracting them from important things like education and life in general. While some will disagree, many, if not the majority of woman are far to obsessed with their looks, as well as the looks of others. I feel that this obsession borders on the line of an OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Not only does this mentality cause woman to view themselves more negatively, but perhaps such women may bully others based upon their looks (many bullies bully due to self-esteem/stress related issues typically). Those that are only concerned with physical appearance, judge themselves and others based upon that standard. We wonder as to why our society is less empathetic and increasingly shallow, here is a big piece to that puzzle. And while it is just a pet-theory, I believe that a mind that is constantly engaged in shallow thinking will be increasingly unable to think deeply about themselves or the world around them.
The FCC should ban America's Top Model, and a campaign to stop the insanity should be waged. Schools should have children submit to regular health exams to ensure they have a healthy body weight. I also believe that make-up should be banned from all schools (lowering peer pressure to obsess over looks). Also school uniforms should be utilized as well (which I have already blogged about before, click here if you wish to read it). A focus on studies and prevention of this behavioral/psychological problem is needed.
While I can't speak for all men, women that are too skinny are not attractive in my opinion. Women that are of average body-weight (or have a 'few extra pounds' are, in reality, viewed as being the most attractive by what I believe is the majority of men.
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