There is so much rhetoric on the image of women and the impact is has on our physical and mental health. The topic bounces in and out of the media. An ongoing issue that we all give lip service to, but rarely actually do anything about it. In fact, women (yes, almost all of us) perpetuate the image of women in our everyday interactions, purchases, and thoughts about ourselves. Personally, I’m a bit sick and tired of all our hypocritical whining!

Who controls how women are portrayed and how we think of ourselves and each other? We do!! Think about it. We are 143 million strong in the United States alone. We have the power to shape perceptions, including the image of women in the home, in the workplace, in social settings, in educational institutions, and in the media. While we have won many battles on many fronts, our girls are still growing up with self esteem issues. In the United States, as many as 10 in 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder. We still value Twiggy as the ideal American body. In the media, women are still being portrayed as sex icons; often in subordinate, seductive, and violent situations. We all know that the average woman does not look like the cover girl model. In fact, the average American woman is 5’4” and 140 pounds while the average model is 5”11 and 117 pounds. Big difference!

Almost all of society, including women, equates the thin body and glamorous look as the ideal of beauty. This is not what who we are. Why do we want to be something we aren’t? Why do we put so much value on thinness? Why do we feel less like a woman when we don’t look like the picture in the Victoria’s Secret catalogue? And more so, why do we buy these magazines? Why do we feel better about ourselves when we are with someone heavier than us? Why do we cringe at curves and thighs? We have the power to say what is beautiful.

Heather Contrino is President of The Femme Forum. The Femme Forum provides one-on-one advice, resources, and information for women in the areas of relationships, career, and personal growth. Please join us at http://www.thefemmeforum.com.

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