Chapter 2: Discussion

Chapter 2

DISCUSSION

How do fashion models affect school girls’ self-identity?

Pressure to be thin

Pressure to be thin is bad because of the negative influences it brings both to school girls and fashion models. It is the reason for all the health issues that girls are experiencing now.

Fashion Industry, sometimes, are blamed for the prevalence of weight loss problems among girls. Modelling agencies require potential models to be thin for the maintenance of the appropriate body figure. Because of this, women, especially school girls, think that what kind of body fashion models have is the standard body figure in the society. But these fashion models are super thin that they promote anorexia to society.

An online community composed of mid to late teen members called Pro-Ana promotes anorexia. Having the quotation of “Anorexia is a lifestyle not a disease,” they became popular to girls who are eager to be thin like models. They give tips on how to lose weight in a dangerous way. These tips are not suitable and not recommended by health experts because it may lead to some health problems.

Girls’ eagerness to lose weight may lead to some eating disorders. An article revealed that a foreign survey conducted by Exeter-based Schools Health Education Unit shows that young girls, ages 10-15 years old, tend to skip meals, particularly breakfast and lunch, in order to lose weight easily. As per health experts’ warning, skipping meals or erratic meal patterns may lead to some health problems and eating disorders. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1219960/The-girls-living-just-meal-day-Teens-risk-health-copy-stick-celebrities-eating-disorder-anorexia-bulimia.html#ixzz0Ts0zP6KP )

There were only two classifications of a body figure: Slim or Fat. Not until different body insecurities of women spread all over.  Because of being too weight conscious and too aware of their insecurities, there are new trends nowadays regarding weight issues. One of those trends is the obsession in thigh gap. Thigh gap is said to be viral to women, particularly to teen girls. It pertains to the space between one's thighs. Girls believe that having thigh gap is sexy. Girls may have thigh gap but others doesn’t have. Because of aiming for this new kind of trend, there is an increase in demand for such operations for having a thigh gap and girls who doesn’t have those are consulting doctors. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/thigh-gap-online-obsession_n_2784276.html)

Because of the pressure of having the required body, some of the fashion models take drugs, use injections and pills to restrain their appetite and hold off hunger for them to maintain their required body figure as models. According to an interview of a model, some even eat cotton balls to fill their stomach and starve off hunger. In this way, models find it easier to lose weight in a short period of time. (http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9524919/From-cocaine-to-eating-cotton-wool-balls-how-models-stay-thin.html)

Obesity

Fashion industry display and expose thin girls too much, that is why young girls think that it is the standard and appropriate body figure for women. They tend to evaluate their appearance based on what they have compared with models and other girls.

However, this pressure to be thin may not be an entirely negative thing.

According to an article, more than 61 percent of adults and 14 percent of adolescents are affected by obesity and some 300,000 die each year from health problems directly related to obesity. These health problems include cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems. The more an obese person ignores these health issues, the more chances of having death as a result. The prevalence of obesity seems to be increasing in most parts of the world. (http://edition.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/conditions/12/13/satcher.obesity/index.html?_s=PM:HEALTH )

Disadvantages

According to Sivadi Kisho, there are five disadvantages of obesity:

1.      

Health Deterioration

Obviously, this is the main disadvantage of being an obese, you can get different health problems. Cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems are some of the health risks. The more an obese person ignores these health issues, the more chances of having death as a result.

2.      The Feeling of Depression

Obese people are aware of the disadvantages of obesity. They know that being obese comes with encountering different problems like having health problems and receiving criticisms from other people. And with this, they feel sad and depressed. 

3.     Sexual Issues 

Studies shows that obese people experience lack of sexual enjoyment and sexual desire. Of course, if a person does not engaged in any sexual activity at all, this disadvantage seems no effect for them.

4.      Social Problems

Judgement and criticisms are normally received by people who are unacceptable for the society and obese people are one of those. They are most likely to experience bullying from the people around them. And almost everyone wants a sexy or hot girlfriend or boyfriend, that's why obese people feel rejected every time. There is a tendency that they can't confess to someone because they know that the one they like will never love them back.

5.      Goals are harder or impossible to accomplish

It is hard to achieve your dream if you are not physically fit. Almost everything that we do requires physical contact. You can't acquire success by just sitting and thinking. There is a need for action and you need to be engaged in physical activities. You cannot accomplish your goal if you can't even discipline yourself from eating.

In addition to that, according to Seidell JC, “As many as 250 million people worldwide may be obese, 7% of the adult population; and two to three times as many may be considered overweight. Prevention of obesity through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle is among the important challenges for the new millennium, and should start in childhood.”

There are still organizations that are willing to give and donate that can help build facilities and programs that can actually benefit people live a healthy lifestyle.

Pressure to be thin is, somehow, good in a way that it lessens the growing number of obesity cases all over the world. Learning to control oneself or having the self-discipline is one good thing about this pressure.

There are two possible reasons for girls’ attitude when dealing with this pressure. Parents’ play a crucial role for that. They must fulfill their duties by giving their child their needs both material things and emotional needs. By doing little things for one’s child, she would feel loved and appreciated and that is where they build their self-esteem.  They feel contented for what they have and what they are because of how her parents treated her. Unlike those parents who condemn their child to try new things and compare them with others, the young girl will feel that she is not good enough. That is where they start to mimic models and celebrities and focus their attention in improving themselves to be like them, to be perfect like them.

     It is always a girl’s decision whether to continue improving themselves and building their identity with accordance to the standard of beauty imposed by the fashion industry and society. Guiding them in choosing the right decision is the best thing a parent could do for his/her child.

     If girls want to lose weight and want to be fit but not anorexic, they should practice self-discipline in a way that they are not considering skipping meals and still living a healthy lifestyle. Losing weight to be physically fit without destroying one’s health is possible. The right amount of food, regular exercise and consultation to the doctor regularly can help a lot. It is a matter of deciding in what way you want to be slim; fastest way is to skip meals and starve oneself or patiently undergoing a diet and exercise in a healthy way.

     Society should stop displaying and creating standards of beauty. Obviously, it has a negative influence not only to fashion models but also to girls who are looking up to them. Instead, fashion models should make this as an opportunity for them to inspire other girls. Inspire in a way that they can undergo a change but in a positive way. Change for girls because they want to and not because the society wants them to be.