Whole Woman

When you walk down the street you see all different body shapes and sizes but when you look in a magazine, on television or on the internet there is only one type of body that is celebrated. This has a very frightening effect on you and your peers, and that is exactly what is intended!

The media is extremely dishonest with you when they show images of women and teenagers. Have you ever noticed how television shows that are set in schools rarely feature teenaged actors? Why is that? Some thoughtful critics claim that images of real teenagers are not marketable.

They have suggested that it's because normal teenagers to lack confidence, they have pimples, they don't have fully developed adult bodies. Teenaged boys don't grow stubble or have broad shoulders and deep voices. Teenage girls often don't have developed hips or breasts. Teenagers often have braces and oily skin and hair!

Is it any wonder teenagers lack confidence? Is it any wonder that more than 95% of teenage girls who were asked by a mainstream magazine how they feel about their body claimed that they were unhappy? (this same magazine uses the images in question mind you) Is it any wonder that a huge number of those young women said they would consider plastic surgery to correct what they perceived as "flaws"?

Around the world, and throughout history, different body types have been popular, but never has the image of women been as distorted as it is now. Women's bodies are airbrushed so that "flaws" are not visible. Where swimwear/lingerie and underwear cuts into the skin on our hips and creates a bump? That's airbrushed out!

Moles or spots are removed, legs and necks are lengthened, eyebrows are moved upwards so they are more arched, collar bones and cheek bones are emphasised, skin pores are minimised or removed, and many many more unnatural things are promoted as healthy, achievable and desirable.

One image even removed a navel however this created outrage as it appeared so unnatural it looked odd. But why don't the extreme slimming and altered computer generated images cause a stir?

Take a walk through a department store, look at the sort of advertisements we see everywhere. There is a multi billion dollar beauty industry that RELIES on you feeling unhappy, and even depressed about your real body! If we all suddenly stopped buying makeup, skin treatments, hair treatments, hair removal products, diet products, and footwear that was uncomfortable and unhealthy for our spines and feet, the "beauty"

and fashion industries would go broke over night!

That's right! You are being told that you are not good enough, the teenagers that you are interested in having relationships with are being told your body is not good enough, and it's such an overwhelmingly strong message that many times we unquestioningly purchase things (often over priced things we can little afford!) to "improve" ourselves, rather than because these items will make us happy. And often the marketing that's gone into selling you the product is completely false!

There's a saying that goes "There are 3 billion women who don't look like super models, and only 8 who do". The odds are good that YOU are one of the 3 billion. The odds are good that society has you questioning whether or not you are good enough, but maybe YOU should be

questioning society about the messages they are giving you and your friends. You have the perfect body, and the only body that is just like yours.

Celebrate your unique qualities! If you feel the need to improve your body or your appearance maybe you should try and think of ways to live well, things that will nourish and nurture your body rather than ways that alter the way you look. Be kind to your body, it's the only one you will ever have!