RE: Body Image in the Media
Bernadette,
I am writing you in regards to the messages you are sending
teenage girls within the media.
Seventeen Magazine targets young adolescent girls from 12-20 years of
age. This is a pivotal time for girls in
regards to body image, self-esteem and personal aspirations. You have so much power to either have a
positive or detrimental effect on girls.
I remember as a teenager in high school reading your
magazines. I would stare at the models
used and the famous stars depicted on the cover and wonder why I did not look
like them. I was a healthy 16 year old
but still would never reach body perfection as shown in your magazines. All throughout high school I suffered from a
poor body image. I am not saying that
your magazine is what caused my insecurities about my body type but I do
believe that the content in your magazines did influence it.
I would like to suggest including women of different body
types that all women could relate to in your magazine. Show happy, healthy and curvy women in your
magazines. The majority of girls reading your magazine do not fit the body type
that you are displaying. The average
size of the models you use are 0-2 while in reality the average size of women
in the United States is size 14. This is
huge difference in what the media is portraying of what women are suppose to
look like in comparison to what real women look like.
Another suggestion that I have for Seventeen Magazine is to
include less superficial articles. I
would always read through the magazine and learn about the new trends, make-up
tips and dating advice. In my
experience, the majority of the content is centered on outer beauty. I strongly believe that the magazine should
focus more on the inner beauty of each individual girl. Include more articles about being a better friend,
student and daughter not about being a better best kisser. We need women in today’s society to focus
their self-confidence on their character and not about the clothes, make-up or
number of boyfriends they have.
Seventeen has the resources and power to make a difference
in the world of media. Change how the
world views beauty. Beauty is an
everyday woman who is strong, happy and independent. We need to focus on the inner strength,
kindness and sensitivity that women are innately given. There are young girls everywhere that need to
know that how they look is great and accepted in society. Start the change!
Sincerely,
Rachel Callister
The first time I read this book was in fifth grade and I remember
loving it even though I did not fully understand the underlying meaning. At age 9, I just enjoyed the storyline. Since then I have read the book at least 5
times since and every time I learn something new or have a different
perspective on the book. I love the
concept that the book addresses about how controlling should society be? In the book, the government controls
everything and the community members are mindless followers. They have no free agency and cannot even see
color or feel pain. Everyone is
guaranteed safety and the necessities but in consequence no one truly
understands life. Since they have never
felt utter sadness they have never felt true happiness because they have
nothing to compare it to. “The Giver”
helped me understand the LDS gospel principle of opposition in all things as
well as free agency. After I read this
book, I was so grateful for all the experiences good and bad that I had gone
through. Overall, this book is an
amazing representation of the importance of free agency in religion, society
and life. 
