Are the Beauty Standards Set for Today’s Women Healthy?

Many of the typical beauty standards set for today’s women are not healthy. Countless women have taken extreme measures to make themselves fit into what society has branded beautiful. The beauty standards set by society today have caused eating disorders, pushed girls to have cosmetic surgery,  and may have caused insecurities or depression for those who feel as though they do not fit in.

The emphasis on hairless bodies, thin figures, and blemish-free faces have become somewhat of a hazard to both women and the environment. Plastic surgery has increased over recent years because too many women are beginning to think they are too fat, or have an odd-looking nose, or that they are just getting old. Some are seeking plastic surgery before their bodies have even had a chance to reach full maturity. My Health News Daily states that the number of Americans undergoing plastic surgery on their chin rose dramatically last year, according to a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In 2011, more than 20,600 people received "chin augmentation," a plastic surgery procedure that reshapes the chin with implants or by moving bones. That's up from about 12,000 chin augmentation procedures in 2010, the report says. Ninety-one percent of all plastic surgery procedures were performed in women. Those who do not take the plastic surgery route may starve themselves to try to be thin. Today even elementary school aged children are obsessed with their weight. According to Rader Programs, one-half of 4th grade girls are on a diet. The media has played a large part in influencing the proliferation of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Diet and diet related products are a 33 billion dollar a year industry. Frequent dieting is highly correlated with depression. Insecurities and depression can develop with the beauty standards set by today’s society. Women who had been models in the 60s and 70s can now be considered plus sized models. The belief that one’s outer appearance is of primary importance can leave women feeling worthless and dedicating their time, energy and financial resources to a hopeless campaign against time, rather than to issues that might improve the quality of their lives.