My view on how relationships and media affects young girls

I have learned over the years that there’s so many tv shows that can be degrading to women. Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras can really affect a young girl when they are older, if they are told that they have to be perfect and have to look like an adult it can affect their mental health later in their life. A young girl who is told that they aren’t good enough or that they are worthless it affects them so much that they become anorexic or bulemic and it can kill them. Shows that degrade young girls can stay with them and make them feel terrible about themselves. I know a little bit of psychology and i know it can hurt if  someone tells you that you’re not perfect or you’d be more perfect if  you did what I wanted you to do and not what you wanted. I have learned that when you think your in love with someone and they pretend to be nice and perfect they can end up turning into an abuser. I have personally seen someone I’m close to go through abuse.

Abusers that gain control of  someone else try to make them feel bad about themselves and threaten to leave in order to make the other person dependent on them and then they have control. An abuser makes the person their with feel bad about themselves. Anyone can make someone else feel bad and lower their self-esteem but we need more people to go out and make a difference and be good role models because its something that’s desperately needed.

I have seen pictures of people who hurt themselves because they were told at young ages they weren’t good enough or they had parents or step parents that instead of trying to help them succeed they lower self-esteem and make them feel really bad. The media doesn’t always help  with these situations. I have seen tv shows and news stories that aren’t good they are degrading or they stereotype women and its hurtful and something we should be able to change.

The fact that so many men want a perfect woman can make so many young girls try to achieve a level of perfection that can’t really be achieved and it can hurt to hear someone say something negative. The only way to be perfect is to show your flaws and let everyone around you know that its okay to be imperfect and be proud of who you truly are. One of my favorite quotes I heard from my english teacher says: You can’t perfect what’s already perfect. And it’s true in a way.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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