Negative self image is an epidemic in our society. Men, women, young girls, and young boys all suffer from media that is telling them constantly, "You are not good enough." All types of media send us this message, it might be verbally, but most likely it is found in ads and pictures. While some people refuse to believe they are being influenced by the media, I have yet to find a way around it. Everything we see or hear tells us to be skinner and taller, to wear makeup and be tan, to have big muscles and to be brave, do not age naturally, wrinkles and gray hair are not okay.
Mirror is a song that debuted in 2004 by a Christian girl band, Barlow Girl, it seems to take the words right out of my mouth. This song is so beautifully written and describes very well the battle we are fighting with our minds and the media.
Beauty takes all different forms. Teenage girls do not have to wear makeup to be beautiful. Teenage boys do not have to work out to be attractive, they don't even have to be manly. These lies have been fed to us for so long that the magazines that appeal to this age group do not even see a problem with the content they publish in their issues. Most adults think it is only this age group that is affected by pressure from the media, but do not, for a second, believe that lie. We see it everywhere, and everyone is affected by it. The problem is, we see it so often that it becomes hard to point out where this negative media is and stop it from influencing us.
Is there a cure for this epidemic of negative self image? It takes a conscious effort everyday to tell yourself, "I will not buy into this lie that the world around me is feeding me! I am beautiful the way I am!" This type of beauty is not focused on the outside appearance, but of the soul. The part of a person that does not wrinkle with age or conform to the ways the world wants it to. The soul is who we are genuinely, it has not changed and never will. Look inside yourself and that is where you will find the real, beautiful YOU.
Will there ever be a world without gendered media? Sadly, no I do not think this will ever go away. Like they say, sex sales. Sexy will always be portrayed the same way, tall, skinny, big breasts, small waist, and perfect skin. We, a society as a whole, can combat with the gatekeepers who publish these false ideas of beauty, but it will be a long, rough fight. Gendered media targets young people, if parents will tell their children what beauty really is and not to be entertained by media and its lies, maybe there could be a world without this epidemic. A world without gendered media? No. A world without a negative self image? Possibly.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
I love your soul
In class this week, we got the opportunity to talk with a transgendered man who was open with us about his experiences and welcomed any questions we had. For those of you who do not know what transgender means, it is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth ("GLAAD's transgender resources," ).
Visit this blog to find out more about transgender from someone who lives it!
Before class, I was nervous about this Skype encounter I was about to have. Now that I think back, my fears were very immature. I wasn't sure what he was going to look like, what if I laughed when I saw him? I was also scared this conversation would make me completely uncomfortable. I had questions I thought about asking him, but honestly I had no intention of really speaking up in class. Right before class began, I decided I was going to listen to everything he had to say, keep an open mind and then maybe I will ask my question.
The time came, he called us on Skype..I was about to see him for the first time..."Don't laugh Valerie! Whatever he looks like, don't laugh!" His video feed popped up on the smart board and to my surprise he looked normal. I can't believe I'm about to tell you this, but I kept squinting to see if I could picture him as a woman..but I couldn't. Once I got over his physical appearance, I was able to hear his life story. I kept thinking of all the questions I would love to ask him, but then he said something that caught my attention and has really stuck with me ever since.
He was telling us how his dad, a religious man, and his Nana, the church secretary dealt with the news of their daughter/granddaughter's decision to make the transition into becoming a man. His dad struggled with what his religion taught and the way he felt about his child. He finally came to the conclusion that he loves his children for what makes them who they are and not what they chose to look like. His Nana, on the other hand, never skipped a beat. He said she has always been his biggest supporter. She told him that she loves his soul and that's what the Lord loves too. He said she always made sure to tell people the change she saw in his attitude. How he used to be a grumpy little kid and now he is such a happy person. How could someone not support a decision that made someone so happy.
I was delighted to see two religious people supporting him and showing him so much love. Throughout this class, as we discuss the different types of gender, sex, and sexual orientation, I have realized that Christians are often the people who make outcasts of those who are different. Being a Christian myself, it breaks my heart. I wish people would just love others, no matter what they look like, even if they are not "normal", or even if you do not approve of their actions. Just love everyone! It took a story like this to show me that there are some Christians who feel the same way. His Nana told him, "I love your soul!" We should love everyone's soul.
References:
Glaad's transgender resources. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.glaad.org/transgender?
Taylor, C. (2011, February 13). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://transchristian.blogspot.com/2012/02/different-possible-reasons-for-being.html
Visit this blog to find out more about transgender from someone who lives it!
Before class, I was nervous about this Skype encounter I was about to have. Now that I think back, my fears were very immature. I wasn't sure what he was going to look like, what if I laughed when I saw him? I was also scared this conversation would make me completely uncomfortable. I had questions I thought about asking him, but honestly I had no intention of really speaking up in class. Right before class began, I decided I was going to listen to everything he had to say, keep an open mind and then maybe I will ask my question.
The time came, he called us on Skype..I was about to see him for the first time..."Don't laugh Valerie! Whatever he looks like, don't laugh!" His video feed popped up on the smart board and to my surprise he looked normal. I can't believe I'm about to tell you this, but I kept squinting to see if I could picture him as a woman..but I couldn't. Once I got over his physical appearance, I was able to hear his life story. I kept thinking of all the questions I would love to ask him, but then he said something that caught my attention and has really stuck with me ever since.
He was telling us how his dad, a religious man, and his Nana, the church secretary dealt with the news of their daughter/granddaughter's decision to make the transition into becoming a man. His dad struggled with what his religion taught and the way he felt about his child. He finally came to the conclusion that he loves his children for what makes them who they are and not what they chose to look like. His Nana, on the other hand, never skipped a beat. He said she has always been his biggest supporter. She told him that she loves his soul and that's what the Lord loves too. He said she always made sure to tell people the change she saw in his attitude. How he used to be a grumpy little kid and now he is such a happy person. How could someone not support a decision that made someone so happy.
I was delighted to see two religious people supporting him and showing him so much love. Throughout this class, as we discuss the different types of gender, sex, and sexual orientation, I have realized that Christians are often the people who make outcasts of those who are different. Being a Christian myself, it breaks my heart. I wish people would just love others, no matter what they look like, even if they are not "normal", or even if you do not approve of their actions. Just love everyone! It took a story like this to show me that there are some Christians who feel the same way. His Nana told him, "I love your soul!" We should love everyone's soul.
References:
Glaad's transgender resources. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.glaad.org/transgender?
Taylor, C. (2011, February 13). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://transchristian.blogspot.com/2012/02/different-possible-reasons-for-being.html
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)