Young Girls and Diets
I am the mother of 2 girls. I used to treat patients with eating disorders. I don’t believe in diets. I relay these facts because I just read an article that stirs every ounce of maternal defensiveness I’ve got.
Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal has published a piece that investigates the tenacity of the desire for thinness. Back in 1986 he had the opportunity to interview a group of 4th grade girls about their relationship with weight and their dieting behavior. He was fortunate enough to have the chance the speak with some of these same individuals once again, now grown women, and follow up on some of his inqueries from over 20 years earlier.
Take a look at his article. Then sit down with a magazine or spend 10 minutes in front of mainstream television and be a critical consumer. What kind of messages are being conveyed concerning weight, size, good food/bad food, beauty and self-acceptance? Then review how many of those messages are probably looking for a female audience.
Now for the fun. Take a look at this film produced by Dove entitled “Evolution”.
Thoughts?
3 comments
Its interesting that the author didn’t mention mothers’ influence on their daughters. I read somewhere recently that this is the first generation of girls growing up without an appropriate role model of what women should look like and how they should eat.
So funny – I almost sent that Dove film to you this weekend. Did you see the other one called “Onslaught”? http://www.dove.ca/en/#/features/videos/video_gallery.aspxcp-documentid=9125381/
It’s quite clear that we all need to talk more about girls/young women/”young” women and the media. Laurel, that link is brilliant!
And Laura, you might be right. We all want to be that “appropriate role model”, but we see the same propaganda they do. In our house, we talk about being a critical consumer, discerning what it is the advertisers and various manufacturers want us to believe about ourselves. Do you think opening conversation (and lots of it – I’m certain the eye-rolling will be forthcoming from my ‘tween in the near future) will be enough to help our girls grow strong peacefulness about themselves – in spite of the media messages surrounding them?
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