Brought up insecure

[LilBB]

Following on from the pole dancing thread do we think girls are being brought up insecure? I'm sure there are men with body issues but there seem to be a lot more girls desperate for plastic surgery like boob jobs at 16. Jennifer metcalfe recently had liposuction to go from a size 10-12 to a size 8! Why??? You see young women walking round coated in fake tan and hair from poor Russians glued to their heads. Then there's the god awful labiaplasty. Why do young women think they need to butcher their private parts?

So why do we think this? Insecurities passed on from mothers, celebs (like aforementioned Jennifer Metcalfe) or the bombardment of perfect women?

[zikes]

The patriarchy.

[JessinAvalon]

And capitalism.

How to make money? Make women feel crap about themselves so they'll buy more stuff.

I was at a Suzie Orbach talk last year and she said that it's gone so far for women now that there really isn't much more to be squeezed from us. So now the market is turning to men to look for new sources of income.

[LilBB]

I understand that companies make women feel worthless and the only way to feel better is to buy shampoo, mascara etc but how do you think this results in young girls being insecure? Do you think they pick up on the marketing? Or do they pick up on their mothers insecurities.

Actually this just reminded me about an advert for Lelli Kelly shoes that said the shoes came with free lip balm so clearly they do target them young.

[JessinAvalon]

Of course, Dittany. I started reading the pornchic chapter in Beauty & Misogyny last night and I can't believe that didn't occur to me.

I am surprised at how many trends she highlights in the book that have come from prostitution and porn.

Depressing but not surprising.

[LilBB]

Sounds like an interesting book! Yes I suppose it must come from porn especially when you hear of young women altering their genetalia for 'perfection'.

[Unrulysun]

I've posted on the feminist chat thread about my friend who is having a boob job :( she has a dd of 8 months who is already having lip gloss type Vaseline (iyswim) put on her :( I think that's where it starts. I know I'm going to try never to order a Diet Coke in front of dd. It's just so bloody pervasive. And haven't 50% of nine year olds been on a diet? That makes me want to move to a very far away place.

[LilBB]

I never thought about diet coke. I only drink diet drinks as I don't like sugary drinks. I do think your mother influences you a lot when it comes to body image. My mother is very secure with her body, never mentioned diets or changing herself when I was growing up. Didnt openly worry about what people thought of her and didn't make comment about other peoples looks. I believe as a result of this I am happy in my own skin (although I do own some chicken fillets but that's so I can wear my pre baby clothes without them gaping not so I can show off cleavage)

[Unrulysun]

I hadn't thought about Diet Coke either until I was out with a friend's dd who is nine and she asked her mum for one. My friend just asked the waiter for a Coke but then when dd went to the toilet said she really hates it when she asks for diet drinks. It made me think about how insidious marketing is in reinforcing women's poor self image. :(