On a daily basis people look at themselves in the mirror and see a million different things they wish to change about their appearance. Why is it so hard for people to accept themselves for who they are? I believe that the media is an answer to that question. The media damages our youth by telling them that the only type of beauty is one of model shaped bodies and flawless skin. When the media portrays these things it makes young people, especially girls, believe that there is only one kind of “beautiful” and they feel the need to fulfill that kind of beauty. They put so much on the line, including their life, just to reach a certain level of social acceptance.
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I chose the issue of image perception and how it impacts our youth because I wish to help people realize that they have to be comfortable in their own skin and accept themselves for who they are. This issue is personally important to me because I hate to hear about young people trying to commit suicide or hurt themselves because they don’t feel like they are accepted. I think that people begin to dislike their appearance when all they see in the media is everything that they wish to be.
I have a younger sister who on many occasions has told me how she doesn’t feel pretty. As she gets older, she seems to become more and more self conscious. She complains about her skin complexion and her weight. It breaks my heart to know that children as young as the age of nine don’t feel comfortable in their own skin. At that age they should be worried about going to the park or what is going on with their favorite cartoon shows, not about their dress size. On multiple occasions my sister has compared herself to Barbie. "I wish I could be like Barbie", she says. Even the very toys that should make children happy, make them feel ashamed.