Local context
The state of illinois has been very self-conscious about their body image and they start having eating disorders because they are not satisfied with the way they look. In the state of Illinois 305, 635 women have a case of an eating disorder (ANAD, 2011). Women have been influenced that being skinny is the ideal boy and as a matter of fact many of them want to be anorexic because they say “you are never to skinny.” Overtime, anorexia can cause heart attacks, thin bones prone to breakage, seizures, and lack of menstruation (Finding a top luxury eating disorder treatment center, 2014). Eating disorders are severe disorders that can affect your health in a severe way and it can lead to dead if left untreated. This is important in this state of Illinois because if more and more girls are developing an eating disorder, then they are required to go to clinics and hospitals. Taxpayers pay for that, which means the money is going to them and not to schools, parks, or more hospitals. If where to aware young girls about the risks these eating disorders can cause, we can prevent this from happening. Eating disorders do not just affect you physically but it also affects you mentally as well. “Certain psychological factors and personality traits may predispose people to developing eating disorders. Many people with eating disorders suffer from low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and intense dissatisfaction with the way they look (American Psychological Association).” As time passes more girls are suffering from eating disorders and they are affected psychologically because they think they are fat when in reality they are super skinny. In the state of Illinois there is many places where you can go to eating disorders professionals where you can get help. “50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13, in Illinois, see themselves as overweight (Eating disorder statistics.)” Self-image is an issue that people in Illinois should be aware of because it brings many issues. |
Local Context
My issue impacts Chicago because there are many teens that are trying to change the way they look because of what they see on tv. There are many television ads, persuading teens to buy make-up or face creams to make their skin feel smoother or to take away any blemishes from their skin. A lot of teens are not only seeing tv ads but they are seeing celebrities that are supposably buying the products being sold or they see how celebrities have that “ideal” body image. Not only are these things being shown on television ads or celebrities, but also in music videos and there are teen examples in Chicago that would spend time looking at magazines and watch tv. In this article I was reading, Mckinley quotes Elexis, a 12 year old, now 16 year old girl “When Nicki Minaj first came out, I thought that she was gorgeous, a perfect body–and that’s what boys were looking for. She made me feel fat, unproportionate even...” “She would spend lots of money on things like hair and nails to make herself feel better.” Little girls and teens, shouldn’t have to be worrying about what they do to their hair, or what they wear. These generations are changing so much. When I was a little girl, I don’t remember ever worrying about how I look or what I wear. I don’t remember worrying about if he likes how I look or if she likes what I’m wearing. I don’t even remember having to look at celebrities and looking at the type of body they have. I only started to worry when my family would tell me, or when I was already in 5th or 6th grade, that I started breaking out a lot and people would point it out and make me feel bad. I was embarrased of my face, which I shouldn’t have worried because I was young and I was growing up. There are many organizations that are helping teen girls or just girls in general have that high self esteem and let girls know that they are beautiful just the way they are. It’s like Bruno Mars song says, “There’s not a thing that I would change, ‘cause you’re amazing just the way you are.” Teens think that they have to change their appearance just so that people can like them, or to be more specific, so that boys can like them; when in reality you don’t have to change at all. Just be yourself, and thats what some organizations here in Chicago are trying to do. In little VIllage Social Justice High school three senior girls started a group called Magnolias. In this group young women would get together to talk about issues that affect women. In a meeting the way teens see themselves and the way teens don’t think that they are beautiful came up. This group of young women did a “No Make-Up Day” in the school. In the Social Justice High School newspaper it said, “The SOJO girls came to school without make-up to help raise awareness of natural beauty. Member of the Magnolias gave out bracelets saying ’More than pretty’” This is helping girls know that they don’t need make up to look pretty. Natural beauty is the best, its beautiful. The Social Justice newspaper also had quotes of students who participated in the No make-up day, “ I decided to participate in not wearing make-up because girls are being tricked into believing that they need to wear make-up to be ‘pretty’. We are targeted by make-up companies, who are selling the idea of beauty,” says SOJO sophomore Joanna Nevarez. It’s true, make-up companies are targetting teen girls into buying make-up products. Teen girls need to be aware of this, and this is what Magnolias is about. To aware girls of what is going on. Girls shouldn’t have to worry about how they look. |