YWCA WARNS: BEAUTY OBSESSION A DANGER TO AMERICAN WOMEN!
Meg here, the LA Times has some pretty scary statistics going on with American women.Here's a little highlight.
* Eighty percent of women say they're unhappy with their appearance, and 67% of women ages 25 to 45 are trying to shed pounds -- though 53% of those women are already at a healthy weight. The report also cited a study in which 69% of the respondents (18 and older) said they were in favor of plastic surgery -- a 7% increase from 2006.
I wonder about these things, not that I doubt Emili Vesilind statistics but maybe 7% increase in plastic surgery is not so much about the unhappiness women have with themselves but rather the larger widespread acceptance of plastic surgery? Botox and juvaderm seem as "gateway" procedures for even those that were once afraid of the dentist lining up in droves to get their wrinkles filled.
The article goes on to say that the "(we knew things were going downhill when fourth-graders started emulating scantily clad pop stars like Britney Spears)". When I was a little kid..I was into dressing like a slutty Madonna way before fourth-grade. I remember piling on the jelly bracelets and lace gloves and floppy bows and begging my mother for Madonna's "Boy Toy" t-shirt. This never lead me to an eating disorder. Just a lot of humorous polaroids with my 6 year-old cohorts.
The article also points out "One of the many factoids in the report noted that if women put the average amount of money they spent on monthly manicure-pedicures ($50) into an interest-bearing retirement account every year for 10 years, they would have almost $10,000 saved.' Excuse me, but who the hell wants to do that? There's lots of ways to save $50 and I don't think cutting out your mani-pedi should be one of them. The appearance of your hands is very important and when I see a woman with unsightly, chewed nails and hangnails it doesn't only look unprofessional but unhygienic.
Everything in moderation, I guess (this coming from me is soo hypocritical). I felt reading this article the same way I do when watching LA weatherman report on "Storm Watch" and it rains for maybe three hours.
I don't know, what are your thoughts? Are these really new, media related issues or more of the same stuff thats been around forever?
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Reviews
My story is that I was never into makeup during my highschool years even though my mother owned a boutique that sold makeup. It was just plain rebellion on my part. My appearance was never high maintenance. It was during graduate school that I began to really get into skin care and makeup. My skin is not what it used to be...hence the makeup. I do my own nails which often times are not even polished but buffed to a high shine and kept short because I have the thinnest nails ((I do need a pedicure in a bad way though). However, I did visit a plastic surgeon, not for surgery, but for glycolic acid peels and it was the best thing I ever did for my skin. I'm considering botox but only now that I'm noticing more wrinkles in my 35 years. I stay out of the sun and use a 30 spf every day. I made an appointment with my dermatologist to get back on retin-A, not for the cystic acne that I no longer have but for the wrinkles and to increase my collagen that is slowly dissapearing. It's only now that I'm getting older that I really appreciate that these options are available. I can't say I'm interested in plastic surgery...my sister keeps telling me I need a boob job but I gotta say I'm okay with my B-stings:) That's about the only part of my body that gets off the hook because I could really go for some liposuction; but I'm not sure if I'm ready to invest my money (and body...I don't like the idea of self-induced pain cause I'm a wimp) in something like that....I'd much prefer to use that towards a trip to Maui or India. I think it's important to know that the beauty industry is all about the spin, the story, the allure of what you could be if only you did this or that...you have to be smart about it while having a whole lot of fun. I think it's a personal decision...but maybe the question should be asked...whose eyes are doing this for...yours or someone else's? Obviously, I've had a bit of caffine tonight so sorry for the rant. Meg, to answer your question, I think the quest for idealizing one self has been around since the dawn of man. Humans love beauty...it's a scientific fact and anything that brings us closer to the perfection of the gods will continue...we've just introduced technology and science into the mix with a shit load of media coverage:-)
I am obsessed with makeup and skin care. And body products. But, not becasue I am unhappy with my appearance. I love my appearance, I just like beauty related things, cause, I like beauty related things. I wear makeup and take care of myself for me. But, having said that, I think the media does send a message that is really good and healthy. Too many people are insecure about their appearance and I am not sure that the beauty industry helps.