Breanna JOHNSON - Sophomore Editor
Though media hype, people have come to terms with the idea that being a size zero, and having a pretty face is what is important. Society has made up an image as to what the ideal person looks like, and into what he or she should be able to fit. If one fails to meet the often time elusive number, hair color, look or height, he or she is considered ugly, and it should not be this way.
Today, the American culture places a great deal of emphasis made on appearance, weight and size. Most people, especially girls, begin at a very young age believing that worth is based solely on physical appearance.
In an article entitled, “Body Image,” (http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Body_Image/Body_Image.htm) an assertion is made that being thin, muscular, and good-looking is associated with being “strong, popular, hard-working and successful.” On the other hand, the article continues and says being fat and unattractive is associated with being “lazy, ignorant, hated, and weak.”
Sophomore Sasha Miranda is aware of this perception and said, “Appearance discrimination is a really big problem, especially in high school.” She continued and said, “For some reason, it’s important to wear the right clothes, use the right words, and act a certain way just to be accepted.”
Senior Ashton Arnsperger agreed and said, “I don’t understand why people waste their time trying to be something they are not, especially when you could just be yourself.”
This type of unfair, and uncivilized behavior is not just going on with teenagers in high school, but it happens on a daily basis with adults, as well.
Hofstra Associate Professor Comila Shahani-Denning’s article entitled, “Physical Attractiveness Bias in Hiring: What is Beautiful is Good,” suggests that those who are considered more physically attractive are more likely to be hired. These people are more likely to get promotions, be picked in an interview, be the star of a movie, date, and make friends.
The article said, however, that this scenario is more often true for a women than a man.
“We all want to pretend that we don’t think this way, but in all reality we do. The first thing we do when we meet someone new is see what they look like; it’s the honest truth,” said freshman Taylor Dahl.
So, what happens to the people who do not live up the “ideal standards”? In some cases, a lot. Statistics show that people who are considered “unattractive” are not only more likely to be passed over for a job, they are two to six times more likely to be laid off.
This makes is harder for this generation to escape the what is acceptable perception because of the unrealistic standards set up by television shows, magazines, and movies, to name a few.
Young children’s influence increases with the daily exposure. For example, young girls can easily be convinced that the Barbie Doll is how a woman is supposed to look. The Barbie is toothpick skinny, pretty, has long hair, wears the latest fashion, and the only fat she has on her body is her over-sized breasts.
“I think it’s kind of noticeable that there aren’t any fat superhero’s or plus sized Barbie dolls, or anything like that. It is kind of obvious that they are trying to set an image, and I think that it’s unfair that people are mostly picked and judged because of their look,” said junior Jessica Lujan.
What the media displays as normal keeps getting thinner for women, and taller and muscular for men. This can only makes society assume that it should do whatever it takes to keep up with what is “normal” and change to fit in with society.
In all unjust reality, people solely base their first judgment on looks, and how well they fit into what the media calls “beauty.”
Until society takes the initiative to change perceptions, those who possibly could do more than the pretty person is doomed to remain easily overlooked.
