Thursday, February 21, 2008

LooKS...

I was reading the main page and it said something about looks. Looks meanig the way we look at and perceive ourselves. I think I can safely say, that all women, girls, boys and even men have things they are paranoid about or something they would change if given the opportunity.
Then I started thinking about eating disorders, something like four out of every hundred college women will have an eating disorder. Honestly though, we know it is more than that. I have girls in my life, that I love with eating disorders.
Its unimaginable the pressure women are put under to look a certain way. We are seen as too tall, too fat, too short, too skinny, pale, too tan, slutty and fake as hell if we try to change. It blows my mind the standards set for a "healthy" woman. I catch myself judging another woman all the time and then I step back and realize, I know how bad it feels as a woman and I stop.
When I was a freshman in high school, I developed bulimia. It lasted for two years, until my friends and family intervined and made me get help. I thank God for allowing them to save me.
I would like to say I never feel those urges anymore and that I have all this self- confidence now, but it is still hard every single day to go out and not feel judged by everyone I see. Realisticly, I know not everyone cares what I say or what I look like, but the media and standards set forth by the general population is making it easier to develop an eating disorder or self esteem issues.
This is my story and my plea with everyone that reads this: tell a girl she looks pretty, maybe you can make a difference.

2 comments:

Morgan Pettigrew said...

Maggie, everything you said in here is so true. Ditto on the girls we love with eating disorders. It is so hard to watch them treat their body that way. The saddest part is they are some of the prettiest girls around.. making it completely unnecessary. I totally agree that we should all make more of a habit out of telling girls they are beautiful.. it does make a difference, trust me.

Brooxie said...

I definitely agree with everything you said. Girls are always so worried about what they look like and how other people think they look. I think it is so sad how many girls are developing these disorders all because of the way other people perceive them. I know this sounds cheesy but we are all made different!