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This is not a new conversation topic. The effects of our skinny obsessed culture have been shouted from the rooftops. Yet, we have not seen much change in the way women are marketed to become ideal beings. The facts of what the "perfect" woman looks like these days will shock you. 

It is difficult to find a woman that feels a 100% good about herself. It is rare to find a girl that doesn't feel like she could lose a few pounds, or one that doesn't want to look like that girl from the magazines.

The pressure we place on our little girls and women is a heavy burden to carry. These facts prove that this is getting a bit out of hand.

1. How the Times Have Changed

The first thing that a woman sees when she enters a clothing store are the mannequins. They are the set ideal for how the clothes should fit and what you are "suppose" to look like when you wear them. These are sometimes the most unrealistic goals to achieve.

I have worked in retail clothing stores in the past and I can tell you first hand, the clothes don't even fit the mannequins. We would be tasked to dress this plastic perfect people and the smallest sizes we carried would sag off of their lifeless bodies. Pins and clips were used to make the pants, shirts, and jackets not fall off of the terribly slim figures. Belts were no help, they were pulled through past the last hole in the belt.

These mannequins set an impossible standard for anyone to meet. If the clothes can't even fit them, how would they fit a full grown woman or the average teenaged girl?

In the 1950's things were a little different.

Mannequins of those times were shaped after the average woman. They proudly held up 34 inch hips. Through the years, though the average hip size has increased, the mannequins measurements went down. In the 90's the average American woman's hips measured 37 inches, but mannequins only came to 31.

How does that make sense?

2. The Model Standard

Models are seen to be perfect women. They cover magazine covers, commercials, and billboards. They smile down at every other woman begging the question, "Can you even come close to my beauty?" In fact, 69% of girls in a study said that models' bodies are the idea of perfection and a goal for them to obtain.

No. The average woman cannot look like a model.

"Normal" women are about 5'4" and weigh 140 pounds. Models are 5'11" and 117 pounds. Not everyone is born with the blessings of such long and lean legs. Not even the models.

So, not only can not everyone in the world be born at such tall heights, they could be killed from being that skinny.

3. The Real Numbers

Here are some percentages to really bring this idea full circle for you.

47% of 5th - 12th grade girls said that pictures of women in magazines encouraged them to lose weight. Only 29% of these girls were overweight.

80% of women answered People magazine's poll saying that women in magazines, commercials, and on the television made them feel insecure.

The National Eating Disorder Association claims that over 10 million women in America have an eating disorder.

 

But, what do we expect? These numbers only speak the truth about what this ideal body image we have dreamed up is doing to our young girls and women.

Do we really want to look like these scary skinny models, or even Barbie?

Here is a video that really puts things into perspective.

Lets all make an effort today to let this idea of the "perfect" body, or the "ideal" woman be nothing but nonsense. Let us all love ourselves today and not feel that we are unattractive or not good enough. Don't worry yourself sick with being skinny, be healthy.

If we change this now, the future generations and our children today will be ever so grateful.

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