Just about every piece of advertising that we come in contact with has pictures that have been photoshopped. It is very hard nowadays for girls to be able to tell whether or not a computer program has been used to shave off some pounds to make a model look “perfect”, or if the girl’s body is really her own. This not only puts a lot of pressure on teen girls because they want to be beautiful, it's gotten so bad that the models are feeling the pressure as well. Technology has become so advanced that body parts from one girl can be cut and pasted on another with ease.
In reaction to this craziness, France has proposed a new law which would require a label when an image is digitally enhanced. I totally agree with this law. Girls need to know the truth about the pictures they see in magazines, or they will continue to have unrealistic expectations about their own body image. Girls should also understand that it’s okay to have a curvy upper body, or a body with no curves at all. Young women come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Our world would be too similar if everyone looked the same.
Click here to watch a video from the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty that shows step-by-step how a normal looking girl is unrealistically transformed into a "model", using makeup and computer tools.
Here is our guide on self-esteem and body image.
-Emily
So let me tell you a little something about Dennisse. When she first joined our
So there was Dennisse, with all her shyness manifesting as attitude, and I thought "uh-oh." But what I didn't realize was that she was actually paying attention, and taking in all that information. What I didn't know was that she really wanted to be there, and she wanted to learn how to be part of the team and reach out to her peers. Now that I look back and see how it all unfolded -- the amazing and inspiring thing that Denisse did was, even though she was nervous and negative at first, she stuck with it. She kept showing up to work, and learning more and more, and getting more comfortable with the people she was working with. Day after day she gave herself a chance. And that is one of the best things you can do in this life when you're facing a new situation -- even if you're scared & uncertain -- let yourself try.