Hey Guys,
Did you know that a third of 10-15 year old girls are not happy with their personal appearance?
or
that 1 in 7 10 - 15 year old's are unhappy with their lives overall.
that 1 in 7 10 - 15 year old's are unhappy with their lives overall.
This is happening all over the UK and is shown in a new report by The Children's Society. I believe in self love and being a female, I was once just like that one girl in the report that hated what she looked like as a teenager. I disliked what I looked like at 14/15 years of age and I knew things where said about my appearance behind my back. The thing about girls is they are nice to your face but the minuet your back is turned, they talk about you behind your back. I wore glasses in high school, this got me comments like 'four eyes' or 'glasses freak' as I walked passed in the corridor or from people in my class. I'd always do my best to hide away from the louder kids, they'd always comment on people's appearances. My nose was mocked often, I earned the nickname 'Pinocchio' as my nose was too big. I hated what I looked like and when I discovered make up, I felt relieved. I could change the way I looked with make up and I loved it.
When I read up on The Good Childhood Report, I was horrified that young girls felt like this or were pressured into feeling this way in our modern society. I believe social media plays a big part in girls not liking their appearance or their lives. With friends, celebrities or people posting everyday, showing off their lives, it can sometimes make your own life seem dull. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner posting off her latest car or jewellery item can really effect a young girl and life sometimes doesn't seem fair. This can also effect a young girls mental health. The thing with social media these days is the issue of photoshop. We can easily edit a photo to change the way we look to make our selves flawless. I'll admit, I've had a go at photoshopping an image of myself but by the time I finished, i was looking at a completely different person, I didn't look like myself at all, so I decided that photoshopping wasn't for me. This doesn't help young girls growing up looking up at these celebrities who have large bums, tiny waist and flat stomachs. It portrays an image to young girls that this is what women are suppose to look like when in fact women are all different shapes and sizes. We are all different and all beautiful even with out 'imperfections' such as scars, wobbly bits etc. That's what needs to be put out into the world of social media that it's ok to be different and it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, but it's what on the inside that counts. All that matter's is you and your happiness.
Research by the National Statistics suggests that girls are most likely to spend extended periods on social media, which has been liked to a higher risk of mental ill-health. I'll admit I spend time on social media, I like browsing Instagram or Twitter and I like the positive things that social media has to offer like staying connected with people. With Teens or young girls spending extended periods of time on the Internet, this can put pressure on them. Such as getting enough likes or comments on a post to having more followers than your friends to be excepted. I'll admit, I won't post anything that makes me look stupid but I don't mind making fun of myself every now and then and making memories. But to be honest I'm yet to find someone post a selfie of themselves with bad bed hair. Not getting enough likes or media attention can knock a girls self esteem or cause anxiety or depression.
There is so much pressure on young girls to be 'perfect' by peers or online trolls. That sometimes it's ok to say NO!
With teenagers being put under under pressure to start drinking, smoke or take drugs. sometimes young girls give into peer pressure in order to fit in and have that sense of security within high school. Sometimes this can lead to eating disorders, anxiety, depression
etc to keep being accepted and trying to keep up with the 'in' kids at school. For any young girls reading this post and feeling fed up with the pressure you friends or people at school are putting on you, it's ok to say no. It's ok to be different and walk away.
The Children's Society is now calling on the Government to take action to improve the happiness and well being of girls across the UK. Their Aim is to make sure that children and young adults can access mental health and support in schools and colleges.
I'm in full support of this, it's about time something was done to help support girls with peer pressure and the difficulties they face. It's hard enough for girls with exams and the idea of school work, to be dealing with other things on top of that. If i had that support in school maybe I would have had a completely different school experience. I know I would have taken that support if it was offered.
Till next time
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