This video is so powerful, and unfortunately so accurate about the media’s impact on kids today. I think it is easy to believe that kids are sheltered from these sort of images, and that they are only exposed to child-oriented television, such as Sesame Street, Barney, Hannah Montana, and the like. And let’s not forget the images they may come across on the internet!
We can point our fingers at whoever we would like to blame for this problem: the media, the parents, the schools, etc. But I strongly believe that one of the major things that must take place in society today is that children must be taught self-esteem (mostly by their parents, family members, and even schoolteachers), and must be taught to be strong in their own skin. They should have people around them daily that have strong self-esteem, so they know what it means to feel confident about themselves and feel great despite the images that surround them on magazine covers, television and the internet.
The media has gotten progressively worse with promoting images of what it means to be beautiful, sending conflicting and damaging messages to young women everywhere. I think it is time that we take a stand against it – person by person, thought by thought, scale by scale. And the next time someone asks you, “are my thighs too big?” or “do I look fat?”, you should respond, “Does it matter?” or “You look great just the way you are!” And you would not be lying – you would be telling the truth.
Own Your Beauty 