In today’s world, self image is everything—or at least, that’s what most people think. Popular culture places an extraordinary amount of importance on body image, and as a result, millions of us are left with a distorted self image that is difficult to overcome as it relates to self-esteem. We believe we are fat, fashion-unconscious, ugly, or just plain unattractive if we don’t look just like the movie and television stars we see on screens or staring from the tabloid pages.
Though everyone believes this negative self image is a relatively modern occurrence, the fact of the matter is that it is far older than you think. As early as the 1920’s, people all over the United States —particularly women—were led to believe that a rail-thin figure was not only desirable, but necessary. Young girls in the ‘20s starved themselves in an attempt to resemble the popular androgynous-appearing flappers men lusted after. The pervading self image of “thin is in” held reign ever since, disappearing only briefly during the Depression when everyone was starving anyway.
One self image fact that has remained consistent is the apparent inability of women to perceive their bodies as they actually are. Low self esteem seems to add pounds to the image we see in the mirror, and we are never happy no matter how thin we become. Too often, poor self image caused by the “I’m too fat” mindset leads to devastating conditions such as anorexia and bulimia. Girls as young as nine are taught to start thinking about self image, and today many elementary school children who are at a healthy weight can often be heard moaning, “I’m fat!”
Negative self image, and the corresponding negative self esteem, is not reserved for women. Though men’s self image tends to take an opposing viewpoint—most men believe that “skinny” is “bad” because it is not “muscular”—the problem is just as poignant, and just as potentially damaging. Men who perceive themselves as too skinny will often take up dangerous exercise regiments or turn to steroids or unhealthy diets to bulk up.
In any case, self image is a concept in need of a long overdue makeover in the United States. We must begin to teach our children to turn away from Hollywood role models for body images, and define a new way to measure “healthy.” Our self esteem, and perhaps our very lives, depends on it. Teaching children to maintain a healthy self image is imperative to their self esteem, and in turn their entire lives.