The Body Image Project: Age 19

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Age 19

I'm 19 years old. I live in this weird fluctuation of loving the way I look and hating it, and I don't know why. Sometimes I think I have a great hourglass figure, and feel like a million bucks. Other times, like today, I feel like my stomach and thighs and hips are monstrous, and would tear ten pounds of fat off my body if I could. I constantly compare myself to other girls, trying to find things about them that aren't as good as mine, and then woefully deciding that I'm just looking for excuses to cover how much I really don't like my body. The scale says I'm healthy - 5'4" and 125 pounds - but I just can't bring myself to be content with my body most of the time. I usually strut my stuff with non-existent confidence so that what I feel like I lack in the shape department can be replaced with self-assuredness. I get compliments on my smile, hair or eyes, but I feel like I'm never noticed for having a nice body, and therefore tend to think it's not so great. At least I know in my head that I'm healthy, really, and need to learn to appreciate that.

Want To Share?

The Body Image Project is an online project searching for women and girls of all ages to share their individual experiences and feelings about their own body image perceptions. The goal of the project is to have women and girls take the brave step of sharing their story, break the hold these perceptions have and ultimately reveal to those who share and those who read the thoughts of others – you are not alone. It is a rare opportunity to share without fear of judgment - share in a healthy manner. We ask that individuals include their age so the reader witnesses the wide-range of ages and the wide-range of issues women and girls are facing (often silently).

Share your story. Keep it short and simple - the impact will be huge.

To share your story, simply email your words to bodyprojectsubmission@gmail.com.

Background

Body image dissatisfaction is a growing epidemic in our society. Women, teenagers – and now young girls – have become obsessed with obtaining the “perfect body” which can lead to an unimaginable sense of self-loathing. Society targets women with constant attacks on their bodies creating a false belief that our value – our worth – is based on appearance alone. We have become enslaved to the beauty myth and to our unwavering attempt to fit in, skewing the mental picture we have of ourselves.

The Body Image Project simply asks “when you look in the mirror, what do you see?” Do you embrace your physical appearance, or yearn for change? Do you accept your physical differences or take extreme measures in an attempt to change your body? How far are you willing to go to feel better about yourself? Are you happy?

Be honest. Be open. Express yourself without fear of judgment.

Through your words and shared thoughts, The Body Image Project will take an unflinching look at how women and girls perceive their bodies, allow individuals an opportunity to reveal their perceptions of their own self-image and explain how far some are willing to go to fit in.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Age 19

The Question

Want To Share?

Background

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