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Did you know that almost every image you see on a magazine cover has been heavily altered to remove the “flaws” of actresses and models? And recently, actress Keira Knightley revealed that without her knowledge movie producers had used special effects to make her breasts look larger in movies. When the people considered the most attractive in the world need improving, something has gone very wrong with our culture.

Few of us can escape the pressure to look perfect. And it’s worse for women – the pressure to look thin comes from sexist beliefs that expect women to conform to a certain ideal of beauty.

• Seven percent of young women suffer from a diagnosed eating disorder
• In a survey of 6-12 year olds over a third had already been on a diet.

A beauty-obsessed media and gender stereotypes in our culture lead to low self-esteem for young women and to a lesser degree, young men. Don’t we deserve better? The world is filled with many different types of people and many types of beauty both insde and out. TV and media should reflect that, and we should value it. We won’t let someone else’s ideals of beauty guide how we feel about ourselves or how we treat others.

Blog it!

What kinds of beauty aren’t represented on TV? Do you feel pressure to be thinner or better looking? Write a blog about body image.

Interested in this issue? Keep reading!

Read about related issues on Amplify

Gender and Stereotypes
Sex and Our Culture

Other Resources

Do you have a question about body image? Ask one of Advocates’ MySistahs or YouthResource Peer Educators!