Isabelle Caro is the face behind a poignant Italian ad campaign that depicts anorexia in its truest form, one that has shocked the fashion industry.
Sheila MacVicar reports. Watch it here.
February 20, 2011
Anorexia's Living Face (CBS News)
Isabelle Caro is the face behind a poignant Italian ad campaign that depicts anorexia in its truest form, one that has shocked the fashion industry.
Sheila MacVicar reports. Watch it here.
TEEN TRUTH: Body image
Regardless of how closely their actual figure resembles their perception, teenagers’ body image can affect their self-esteem, eating and exercise habits, relationships with others and ultimately their health. Using the series’ signature student-shot style, TEEN TRUTH: BODY IMAGE presents real youths, parents, physicians, physiologists, and an entertainment professional discussing how celebrity, media, sports and peer influences can shape one’s body image and ultimately lead to dangerous habits. Teasing and exclusion led Emily to develop an eating disorder and Kayla to binge eat her way to obesity; while Nolan’s desire to be bigger, stronger and faster ended in health hazards due to performance enhancing drug use. In the end, this affecting film challenges viewers to think differently about how they see their body image and the body images of others, and ultimately empowers them to find true strength and beauty from within.
Beauty and Body Image in the Media
Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women—and their body parts—sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career.
Why are standards of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger and more mature than any of the models? The roots, some analysts say, are economic. By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits.
The stakes are huge. On the one hand, women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids.
On the other hand, research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.
The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that one out of every four college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control—including fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative abuse, and self-induced vomiting.
Media activist Jean Kilbourne concludes that, "Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight."
The barrage of messages about thinness, dieting and beauty tells "ordinary" women that they are always in need of adjustment—and that the female body is an object to be perfected.
Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real women’s bodies have become invisible in the mass media. The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize these stereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industry's standards. Women learn to compare themselves to other women, and to compete with them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability "effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate."
Read more, here.
February 09, 2011
February 02, 2011
Teen truth - trailer
Teen truth - a film created by teenagers
An insight look at violence and bullying in schools
January 27, 2011
Ten confidence boosters for teens
1 Stand Tall - As you walk down the street, remember to stand tall and take in a deep breath. Imagine you are breathing in confidence!
2 Smile - Even if it is the last thing you feel like doing, keep smiling. Try and look for little things to smile about, smile at strangers. Just the act of smiling releases endorphins into your bloodstream.
3 Compliments - Every time someone pays you a compliment, accept it graciously and really own that compliment rather than disregard or laugh it off.
4 Diary - Keep a diary and try to note down all all your successes. Celebrate and reward your successes!
5 Friends - Surround yourself with positive and confident people who make you feel good about yourself. Do activities that encourage you to get out in nature and exercise. You might like create a 'dream team' - a group of people who support and motivate you and share your dreams and wishes. Share your ideas and dreams and make steps to make these into a reality.
6 Mirror - Look into a mirror and say 'I love you' Remind yourself of what makes you special. This is a hard one to start with, but will get easier with time.
7 Achievements - Make a book of your achievements, talents and qualities. List all your successes and things that you are proud of. List all the things that makes you the special person that you are and include all the things that you have done to others and how you have made others happy. You might like to put them in a book and refer to it when you are feeling low.
8 Talk - As much as possible talk to yourself in a kind and positive way. If you notice you talk to yourself in a negative way with put downs, try to stop and change it immediately.
9 Affirmations - Each day, repeat one positive statement or affirmation. You might say 'I am positive and everything that happens is good' or 'I am special and I make a difference' You might even like to theme your day as a positive, happy, confident, joyful or special day and do things that make you feel that way. Here are some ideas: I am unique, i am special, I think about all the things that make me special, I choose thoughts that make me feel good about myself, I deserve to have good in my life, I love the fact that I am different and unique, I am not afraid to be different, I am not afraid to be special, I know that I am loved and respected, I love and respect myself, I believe in myself I know that I make a difference to those around me, I feel good about myself. I believe in myself. I believe in myself I believe in myself, I feel confident, I fill my mind with positive thoughts about myself, I am proud of the things I have achieved. I congratulate myself. I love myself, I am unique and wonderful, I love and accept myself, I love and accept myself.'
10 Relax and Visualise - Relaxation is a great help to feeling better about yourself as it helps you feel good and help manage feelings and emotions.Close your eyes and imagine you are standing in front of a mirror. See yourself standing tall, smiling and looking great. Notice how you feel. Let the positive and confident feelings wash all over you.
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