Emphasis placed on healthy self-image

[Guest guest]

At last! A common sense article! - Rogene

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http://www.campustimes.org/media/paper371/news/2005/10/20/Opinions/Emphasis.Plac\

ed.On.Healthy.SelfImage-1027620.shtml

Emphasis placed on healthy self-image

By

Published: Thursday, October 20, 2005

Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

There is no doubt that our society is image conscious.

According to http://lovemybody.org, " One out of every

four television commercials sends out some sort of

message about attractiveness. "

Beyond that, look at how many makeover shows are

flooding the airwaves. One that sticks out in my mind

is " The Swan. " Season one launched in April 2004. On

each episode, two " ugly ducklings " faced off to see

who could achieve the best overall transformation,

also known as, who looked the best after massive

amounts of surgery.

As one would come to believe after watching this show,

the only way these women were going to be beautiful

was after a new nose, cheek lift, chin implants, brow

lift, face lift, porcelain veneers, collagen

injections for lips, breast augmentation, tummy tuck,

liposuction and counseling from an unlicensed

professional so that they would be able to readjust

and find their new place in the world once they became

beautiful. Why is it that society is so focused on

plastic perfection as beauty?

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and

Associated Disorders Web site comments that " Many

people in our culture are concerned with how they

look, what they weigh or how to change the body parts

they don't like. We can be great in a lot of things,

but if our thighs are too big, well then, we are just

not good enough. " How many of us can look in the

mirror right now and honestly say that we are

beautiful?

If all the statistics are true about anorexia, bulimia

and plastic surgery, I would have to say too few see

beauty in themselves - that is a shame. It is

estimated that seven million women suffer from eating

disorders. In 2004, eight million women underwent some

form of cosmetic surgery. Think body image is only

affecting women? Think again. One million men suffer

from eating disorders and 1.2 million men underwent

cosmetic surgery in 2004.

Whose ideal of beauty are we trying to attain? This

unrealistic idealization is unattainable for most and,

as cliché as it sounds, we need to learn to celebrate

our differences and find beauty in ourselves and

others just as they are.

Love Your Body Day was recently started in 1999 by the

National Organization of Women as an effort to voice

the concerns of women that were, " fed up with the

pressures to fit an 'ideal,' emaciated image which is

unhealthy and unnatural for most women. "

This year, Women's Caucus and Alpha Phi helped our

campus celebrate Love Your Body Day on October 19. A

table in Commons offered ribbons and tips for

healthy eating, as well as information on how to

conduct self examinations breast and testicular

cancer. A large body cutout was provided for students

and the community to sign, signifying their favorite

part of their body and, upon completion, will be hung

in Commons for all to see.

The definition of beauty does not involve any numbers.

Recently, the Rochester community and those across the

country were able to step off the scale, put away the

measuring tape and love our bodies!

can be reached at msmith@....