If you’re female, this isn’t news at all:
Negative feelings about their looks cause girls to disengage from Life
— reported by HispanicAd.comWhen girls feel bad about their looks more than 70 percent age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities such as attending school, going to the doctor, or even giving their opinion. “Beyond Stereotypes: Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty Beliefs,†the second Dove global report on female attitudes toward beauty, explores the genesis and development of self-esteem. The research investigates how beauty ideals impact women’s and girls’ lives globally.
The initial Dove global study revealed many women believe the definition of beauty has become limited and unattainable – negatively impacting their self-esteem. It inspired the Campaign for Real Beauty. Designed to challenge beauty stereotypes and invite women worldwide to join in a discussion about beauty, the campaign has served as a catalyst to help change society’s definition of beauty. The goal of this second study was to identify positive and negative influences on self-esteem and help provide solutions for freeing the next generation from beauty stereotypes. “We should support women and girls, encourage them to enter into this crucial dialogue about beauty ideals, and keep them from shrinking away from life,†said Dr. Nancy Etcoff, a Harvard University professor and leading expert on the connection between beauty and emotion, who also collaborated on the study.
The survey polled 3,800 girls and women between the ages of 15 and 64 in 11 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, United States and the UK; and a follow up survey in Argentina.
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Read the article for more details, including the role mothers play in girls’ self esteem.
