Kat's Pajamas

By I'm confused by the Victoria's Secret commercial that features a wafer-thin woman with huge breasts

The effects of this often-subtle barrage on the self-worth of so many women make me want to cry sometimes. I did cry when my 14-year-old sister, who is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds, told me that she is trying to get thinner. I recently had a conversation with some classmates about women's use of makeup that disturbed me. We girls were trying to explain how self-conscious we feel when we go anywhere without makeup. The guys were scoffing at our concerns, swearing that they couldn't care less if girls wore makeup or not. Whether or not this is true, most women don't feel as confident without at least some foundation and mascara. Why can't we leave our rooms without makeup without feeling bad about ourselves?

In her book, The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf argues that images and ideals of impossible beauty are used to oppress women. She points out that from an early age, girls are taught in many ways that physical beauty is more important than any other quality. The images that confront us every day reinforce this lie, and they're everywhere from billboards and magazine ads of thin, busty women to movies and television shows where the heroine is always gorgeous. No wonder most women have sacrificed time and happiness in some way to better fit this outrageous idea of perfection. The billions of dollars collected each year by dieting agencies, cosmetic manufacturers and plastic surgeons are clearly evidence of society's interest in keeping women feeling inadequate.

The most horrible thing about the beauty myth is how much life it steals from women. I don't want to think of the hours spent in front of the mirror or at the gym, correcting supposed flaws, that could have been spent reading or talking or building or climbing a mountain. I feel angry because this problem overwhelms me sometimes. I ask you to at least be aware. Be angry if you catch yourself wearing shoes that kill your feet in the name of beauty.

Kat McGuire is a sophomore English major.