Girls Bodies By Jennifer Aniston Summary

Actress Jennifer Aniston said, “You’re damned if you’re too thin and you’re damned if you’re too heavy. According to the press I’ve been both. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone and I suggest we stop trying.” If someone as idolized and admired as Jennifer Aniston receives criticism about her appearance, then what is the ideal woman and how can a regular woman find acceptance? Women are often subjected to double standards by people and can never truly fit in. These double standards lead to body issues and low self image. Even though not all women comply with this conformity it often leads to them being shunned and put down by society.

In her essay “Girls’ Bodies, Girls’ Selves: Body Image, Identity and Sexuality”, Research Scholar Elline Lipkin

There is a constant battle between being too thin and being too fat. If a woman is seen as being fat, then she is automatically assumed as being lazy and overeats. If she is too thin, then she starves herself and is often seen as number obsessed. For the woman who is not the ideal weight, but over it, she is told she needs to lose weight and that she is just a pig who refuses to exercise. Health issues like Hypothyroidism can affect the hormones that regulate metabolism, causing weight gain. Women that are on the other side of the spectrum are seen having issues with Anorexia and Bulimia. Diseases are often ignored when it comes to weight because all that society sees is the shape of the person, and women are criticized for it harshly. Society is so obsessed with weight that it often blocks out aspects like personality when people address women. A male friend came up to me one day and told me that if I lost some of my waist, men would be more attracted to me. When did numbers come to outweigh personality and overall compatibility? I have come to accept the fact that I will not fit in with the “ideal woman’s” body image, however I do not let it affect how I see myself. Instead, I embrace it as part of being me. The need for a thin body has been fed by the media to make the woman change her ways and give in to society’s demands. Weight loss programs are displayed on television for low prices enticing women that are “overweight” to buy the product so she can become more desirable. The internet is filled with banner ads that tell people to, “click and learn how to lose 5 pounds in 1 week.” Blogs are being dedicated to weight loss and article upon article are being created for the sheer need to be thin and ideally what every woman “wants.” However, amongst the ever growing weight loss powerhouse are a few people who stand up against it. As people flip through channels on their TVs they can