Women

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It’s time to come out of our skin and into reality. How else can we see each person for who they really are. It’s time to come out of “skin” that speaks for it self in response to the media, and it’s captivating voice. It’s rhythmic beats and sounds on the streets, yell and scream subliminally “you can’t be beautiful with out me!”. If the image in the mirror doesn’t reflect what we see glamorized in the media (that some of us admire and desire to attain), we will continue our struggle in seeing the beauty within ourselves and others. A torch was placed in the hands of this leading large sector of the world, and dealt with irresponsibly by those who market the youth of each generation, leading to more irresponsible actions. The horrible self images we young females have of ourselves today, has no doubt been influenced by the media. Not only do many of us have poor self images, but so does much of the rest of the world. From this has derived various standards, stereotypes, and perceptions, that have either come wrapped in a pretty little box that some of us inconveniently squeeze ourselves into, or been reoccurring nightmares that hunt the everyday lives of the average young lady. If we so desire change more than vanity, we can take the torch out of their hands and begin to know and love the person whom we reflect in the mirror.


The ideal “look” for each changing season in fashion, mostly targeted to us through music videos, movies, TV shows, magazines and commercials, has set standards for acceptability among female youth. To some degree, division remains among us because of fashion standards that need to be maintained. If this is not tangible for some, they may feel like outsiders, and become isolated from those deemed popular because of their attire. Those who are achieving this hotness may come with an even hotter attitude. Then there are others who criticize the whole thing, in the position of a conflict resolutioner but create a bigger problem than what already exists. As a young female, I have played the role of all these characters in some way. Criticized for not having the hottest “gear”. Victimized others because I thought their clothes were wack. (More like they were wack for even trying with that “EXCO” which was, on my part dead wrong). In other cases, I’ve dissed girls because of their lack of clothing, and discussed the absurd foolishness of the ones who admired them. Sure enough this isn’t the major priority of media’s many creators, directors, producers, artists, actors/actresses, etc, etc. I know without a doubt in my mind that the main objective is money, and that by any means necessary. The female monsters and casualties that are being created in the process are in fact visible for the world to see but remain unseen because their blinding figures have surpassed six. Simply stated, maybe they just don’t care. Fashionable garments have become a social standard among females affecting the youngest of us, with effects shaping the destructive path our generation is currently walking.


Some stereotypes have unquestionably been encouraged and promoted about females through media outlets. Labels that have somehow branded a number of our young female minds with corrupt thoughts leading to actions, which to some may seem supportive of what’s bill boarded, advertised and televised. One prominent stereotype in media is that "women should primarily concern themselves with attracting and sexually satisfying men“(1) , a statement given by Nicole Krassas who did a study of Cosmopolitan and Playboy magazine. She found that both men and women magazines portrayed sole images of female sexuality. In music videos by popular artist such as Missy Elliott and 50cent, young women are costumed in barely anything and made the visual back bone of their lyrical craftiness. These images are as stereotyped, meant to “sexually satisfy men” and are major tools that stand at the doors of our minds (not only us but men) and usher in limiting visions of ourselves and other females. Success can greatly become measured by a stereotype such as the one mentioned, and probably hinder our growth mentally, emotionally, professionally, relationally and/or spiritually. Whether you fit the ideal image or you don’t- being tall or short, slim or fat, black or white, and everything in between, stereotypes can impede young women from all walks of life.


Time after time we mirror each other; the media facing the young women, and perceive that less is best, namely with clothing and pounds. We look to the media at times as a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Unfortunately, as we look at them innovatively, they look at us for inspiration in light of what has been accomplished. In a summary of research findings from The Social Issues Research Centre Website “ 25 years ago top models and beauty queens weighed only 8% less than the average woman, now they weigh 23% less”(2) . I’d like to point out that this research article was written 8 years ago- imagine the increase of that percent.
History notes that “in the19th Century being beautiful meant wearing a corset- causing breathing and digestive problems”(3) , to achieve an ideal body image. In more recent years we’re dieting and exercising ourselves into the modeled perception of a “fashionable shape- often with even more serious consequences”(4). It seems almost as if the media walks hand in hand with us through a revolving door circling the perceptions of youthful females, growing with each generation.


The message that’s being sent to us is ultimately the one being sent to the generation following , and at an even younger age. It’s a message with a foundation not being on love. For most of us, without the mask of mass media, beauty seems to have no place in our mirrors. Who we reflect can’t be who we really see but someone thinner, with more breast, firmer booty, longer hair, straighter nose, smaller waist, fuller lips, darker/lighter skin, better clothes, and still if we have this all there’s always a better look. With this all being said I’d like to encourage every young lady who reads this piece by saying- you are beautiful. Yeah, I may not know any of you but I know that truth could never be written more beautifully and clear; we are- along with everybody else “fearfully and wonderfully made”(5) and there’s no defect, flaw, or ugly in that. Believe it or not you were carefully designed and a work of art that can not be duplicated. We should love the differences in ourselves both internally and externally. I won’t deny, there are things we all need to change that ain’t so pretty, but most of the time it’s our attitudes. It starts with me, and I’m learning that my beauty is not measurable to the standards of media or my female counterparts. It starts with you, by beginning to see your beauty in a mirror not designed by man but God, loving yourself and loving others no matter how they look or what they wear. Take the torch that awaits you and pass it to your neighbour.




Appendix

(1)Taken from the Media Awareness Network Website
Article: Sex and Relationships in the Media
Author: Unknown


(2)(3)(4) Taken from the Social issues research centre Website
Article: Mirror Mirror A summary of research findings on body image
Author: Kate Fox, 1997

(5) Taken from The Holy Bible (The New King James Version)
Book: Psalms Chapter139 Verse 14
Author: David

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