TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR EATING DISORDERS.
“It is literally impossible to be a woman.” The opening line of America Ferrara’s powerful monologue from Barbie (2023) caused shockwaves around the globe. Because it’s true.
So many women and girls are subjected to hateful comments about their bodies. It is the norm. Society has gone from “you should get on a diet” or “you need to wear makeup” in the office, to “Ugh, I need to go to the gym, I look so fat today”, “I want to look like that influencer, her nose is so perfect.” Social media has also made it easier for people to spread hateful comments, hiding behind the screen, without any repercussions.
Social media’s impact
With social media being such a staple in our lives, it is easy to get swept up in all this negativity. People have been posting videos to help remind young women that healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to the human body. Everyone is unique, and that seems to have been forgotten nowadays.
Humans are programming algorithms – what we see and interact with is becoming the “dream body.” The skinniest waists, the small but perky boobs, the youthful complexion. But these are pretty unachievable. It’s unrealistic. And unhealthy. Even now, young women are getting facelifts, and using anti-ageing cream. #dreambody has 62.7K posts on TikTok. Many videos are about the desire to be skinny, or about going to the gym in order to achieve a certain build.
New phrases pop up all the time. Thunder thighs, bikini body. There are filters that make you “look better”. You can spend hours comparing yourself to the unrealistic beauty standards that you see online.
How does unrealistic beauty standards affect your health?
According to medical professionals and psychiatrists, unrealistic beauty standards can have a serious affect on both your physical and mental health.
Comparing yourself to the bodies you see online can lead to low self-esteem. According to Dove’s Self-Esteem Project survey in 2017, 54% of females between the ages of 10 and 17 globally have low to medium self-esteem. Having low self-esteem can lead to eating less, becoming more socially reclusive and sometimes making self-destructive decisions.
According to Medical News Today, body image issues are a risk factor for eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. According to NHS England in 2022, almost 100,000 children and young people started treatment for an eating disorder between April & December. The toxic and unrealistic beauty standards in society are a significant factor in why young people are experiencing body image issues.
How can we love ourselves?
Words of affirmations
One thing that has changed a lot of people’s mindsets when it comes to feeling good about themselves is using words of affirmation. Instead of commenting on your body, compliment yourself on a personality trait you have! Some examples include: “I am kind to everybody, even strangers” and “I am hardworking, and I achieve my goals.”
Take the focus away from your physical attributes. You are much more than that! The people who love you don’t care about what you look like! They love you because you are smart, funny, helpful, thoughtful, creative… the list goes on! Do this every day if you can. You soon realise that there is so much to love about yourself; these outweigh any negative thoughts you have.
Some people choose to write these affirmations down in a journal, so if you ever feel self-conscious or not enough, you have a bank of compliments about yourself at hand.
Take time away from social media
It’s easier said than done. But studies have shown that taking time away from social media can be really good for you. Limit your screen time or delete the apps. Get back to reality. Make time for yourself, and really look after you.
There are plenty of things that you can do instead of doom-scrolling through videos of unrealistic beauty standards. One thing that has helped me is getting back into reading! I love being transported into another world, fantasy books are much more exciting than comparing your body to what you see online.
I also enjoy reading before bed; it means that I’m not going to bed feeling bad about myself, and staying off the screen before going to bed means you may get to sleep easier than if you spent hours scrolling.
Going for walks in the park is also a good way to spend time off social media. You get to see cute animals and pretty flowers! Spending time in nature is calming. You get to clear your head, and this is really important to do when you’re constantly surrounded by social media.
Another fun but also important way to spend time off social media is hanging out with friends! Go to a café, do an activity like crazy golf. Catch up with people whom you may not have seen in a while. Being with people whom you love is a fulfilling way of living in the moment. You’re guaranteed to be so much happier with people than alone.
Be kind to yourself!
Most importantly, you need to look after yourself. Not just your body, but your mind and your self. Remind yourself that nobody is perfect; we are all flawed in some way. That’s what makes us human.
Forgive yourself; we all make mistakes, and some things are out of our control. Listen to your body, rest days are absolutely ok! There is no shame if one day you don’t feel like exercising or doing any college work. Everybody needs a break sometimes. Don’t beat yourself up. Set yourself boundaries; it is okay to say no. Sometimes you don’t want to go out, cosy nights in with a cup of tea can be just as enjoyable.
Treat yourself how you treat others. In Cate’s song, Can’t Wait To Be Pretty, she sings “If my friends were to think the things that I think about my body, I would tell them they’re crazy, that they’re hot and amazing.” You are absolutely deserving of the love you give to your friends and family.
Dame Emma Thompson said ““Don’t waste your life’s purpose worrying about your body. This is your vessel, it’s your house, it’s where you live. There’s no point in judging it. Absolutely no point.”
