4. What changes can be implemented to support positive body image in young girls?

Question

Girls are under a pressure to have 'ideal beauty'

this is being complained about....

what can fix it?

Answer 1

My 21 yr old has a great body image. I was given major body issue stuff from my parents, and I decided very early that she would not feel that way ever. I began young. If I complimented her looks, she was complimented ten times for other things.. her intelligence, kindness etc.

I would tell her that models were the unhealthy ones, that I felt sorry for them. I would tell her that she was given what she was given, and no amount of dieting would EVER change that. That the goal was to be healthy, eat right and "do stuff". Even at four she understood the goal was healthy not skinny.

She even did a speech in class on body image that was embraced by every girl who heard it. "The male dominated fashion industry's idea of what beauty is and the lengths females will go to to try to attain it."

To bring up the conversations I would use something on tv, mag ads etc. I did not dwell on it, or lecture. Just a quick comment on how sad it must be to be a model, never able to really eat, to be unhealthy,and probably not phyiscally in shape. If there was a regular girl I spoke highly of her. Told her diet commercials were dumb. It added up over the years. But I had to be vigilant. But the fact that she has NEVER worried about her body, and has not even made a negative comment about herself made it sooooooooo worth it.