In the 6th grade, I was 11 years old when the pressures of society got to me. I had never been conscious of the way I looked until seeing models and girls on TikTok pointing out unattractive features. Eleven is too young to be conscious of what is “wrong with you.” The societal norm that having to be a perfect painting has given girls and teens the idea that they are not good enough.
Of course, over the years it has taken on different forms: manners and the proper traits, looks and status. Young girls all over the world have suffered from what is called “beauty standards.” A beauty standard is like a box that teens feel like they need to fit in to be beautiful, to be loved. It is toxic and causes more pain than can be seen on the surface.
In the 21st century girls are encouraged to do much more than sit around all day and cook. They are inspired to speak their minds, to stand up for what is right. It is beautiful how much stronger they are becoming, but it comes with limitations. If you are being assertive and speaking your mind, you are being too loud. If you don’t speak up, you are considered weak and shy. It appears no girl can win!
It is surprising that many are unaware of how the ridiculous expectations and inappropriate comments impact young women’s mental health, in addition to their self-image. Society’s expectations of young girls may be destroying their ability to make a stand and cause them to shrink up and “stay where they are supposed to be.” The unrealistic expectations teens are being pressured to achieve affect more than their clothing and makeup. Fitting in becomes a lifestyle, and forces young women to lose who they truly are. For example, the image of having clear skin with not a single imperfection tends to bring many down, especially teenagers who often struggle with acne. Another example is products everyone has. Recently Uggs have come quite popular. Everyone wants a pair, but they can be very expensive, and not everyone has that money. No one wants to be different though, so purchasing product after product is how teenagers are trying to fit in.
Mental health comes into play as teens battle toxicity to the point where they develop doubt about themselves and end up in a dark space. According to Butterfly Beginnings Counseling, depression and anxiety has become a serious problem for many teenagers, and the pressure of society has been a top contributor.
Well, what really is society? Society is a social construct. Teenagers in the 2020’s mostly face society through their phones, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat; all examples of society making its way into teenagers’ lives. Not just young girls, but all teens. Young people are facing the problem of what they should and shouldn’t be based on these apps.
In recent years, our society has become all about social media, and it has taken the most toxic turn. The thing about social media is that anything can be easily altered. Many things we see on social media are made up or greatly exaggerated. Girls expect to look like an Instagram model because she is absolutely beautiful, but what they cannot see are the alterations that were made to the photo, or even poses that change the girl in the photo. If our society is made up of lies, how are young women expected to ever fit these standards? That is the reason confidence of young women is easily diminished. Being expected to fit into the impossible, is impossible.
Not only has society made many expectations, but it has turned girls against each other. Seeing all the flaws they have has made them able to see flaws in others. Many girls point out these “imperfections” to other girls and make them feel insecure. The toxicity has expanded into their everyday lives, and for many young girls it feels like there is nowhere safe from judging eyes.
It is a time-consuming distraction for a young woman to fit into society while battling the pressures to try drugs, alcohol, or even smoke and vape. These intentional success sabotaging obstructions are mainly influenced by the internet, our modern society, and the perceived idea of cool behavior creates additional problems with addiction.
Society’s many branches require teens to meet many expectations. According to Associated Press News, approximately 60% of girls living in the U.S have reported feeling sad and hopeless. The sadness and hopelessness come from the impossible comments and standards young women are expected to live up to. Feeling that they will never fit in, never be enough.
Unfortunately, there are not enough adults acting. They need to understand the future resides with the next generation, and if this toxicity continues our over-burdened future will consume us. The question to adults is: what are you going to do to change the potential demise of your kids’ lives? Young girls all around the globe are being affected. Further action is needed to fix this problem. Young women need to see themselves as a human being and not a doll to be fixed.
