From Loquacious to Lip-Plumping

 

                 As I’m walking through the halls of my high school on a regular Monday morning, passing by teenage girls in full-face make-up and taking pictures of themselves on SnapChat, I sometimes find myself thinking, “Do I look good enough?”

                TikTok and Instagram have affected me and many girls and our views of our own body image. Big lips, a button nose, light eyes, and an hour-glass figure have become the popular standards of beauty for young girls, starting as early as 11. Influencers, for example, post photos and videos which can trigger students’ insecurities about their appearances. Today, as many as 54% of teen girls use trending makeup on a daily basis (2). I find myself using random products like lip-plumping gloss that have gone viral for no reason. Before social media, beauty norms were dictated by models in magazines, but now TikTok trend-setters post their latest updates by the minute. The constant shifts in trends dominate the average teenage girl's time, mind and energy.

                 On the last day of my volleyball tournament, my teammate eyed the 18 year-old volleyball players, and asked me to point out which girl had her body type and if it was anything alike to her own body. I didn’t know how to respond. The air was teeming with defeat, and my attention was on my mistakes in the last game. Then she made a comment about my body:

                  “Anna, you’re good, you have everything that you need. You should be grateful for what you have”.

                  Thanks, I guess.

                 Obsession with body image also leads to low self-esteem, eating disorders, and other mental health issues. Actress Kate Winslet said in a recent interview: “People would talk about my weight a lot. And I would be called to comment on my physical self.” She went on to suggest that this physical commentary from the media “tampers with your evolving impression of what’s beautiful”(3). There’s an ever-increasing addiction, especially among middle school aged girls, to comparing themselves to the body types that they see online. A celebrity profiler might post that “every body is beautiful”, and send a mixed message soon after, promoting a beauty product for the desired body type.

                  This desire to be around “pretty” people starts as early as 6th grade. Rather than getting to know someone on the inside, the outside is what we compare ourselves to. As I am approaching the middle of my freshman year in high school, I’m more aware of my addiction to knowing my body type, wondering if I look normal and what people want to see.

                  Instead of worrying about how others see us, let’s speak out against the unattainable expectations of beauty. Content creators should use platforms such as The #MeToo movement to encourage and empower young viewers to question and be more mindful of body image related trends. Forums for more honest stories from politicians, celebrities, and athletes about their struggles to conform could provide new insights to young audiences.

                  So throw out that plumping gloss and go be more loquacious!