The Negative Impact of the Fashion Industry on American Teens

1233 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Fashion and its effects on youth

“Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It’s movement, design and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be” (Marsi). Blair Waldorf captures the essence of the fashion industry perfectly and how truly influential it can be. While there are many positive assets to the fashion industry, it has a negative impact on children and teenagers of today by promoting an unhealthy body image like that of the scrawny fashion models seen in current runways and magazines.

Over time, the beauty and fashion standards of women have changed drastically. Take a look at the 1950’s, for example, and notice the admirable qualities many fashion stars possessed. In the 1950’s, models were purely utilized to show off the clothes in fashion shows – isn’t that what fashion is about? They were naturally thin and fit, as they are presently, but extreme gauntness and striving to be the single scrawniest human being on the planet wasn’t an issue. Models back then didn’t make the general public feel self-conscious; it was all about the clothes. Lesley, a Vogue model from the 1950’s explained that models “were a standard size twelve and never as thin as they are nowadays,” and even though sizes are measured dissimilar to back then, it is a substantial difference from the size double-zero models of today (1950s Vogue Model). Models and fashion icons in the 1950s not only had a fuller figure, thus promoting a healthy body image, but a natural look as well. Vintage photographs reveal thick thighs, curvy figures and full busts. These women appeared voluptuous, feminine – and above all – normal, inspiring the 1950s to soon become one of the most admirable eras of fashion in history.

In comparison, supermodels...

... middle of paper ...

...uirements.html>.

"Audrey Hepburn Quotes." BrainyQuote, 2014. Web. 10 Feb 2014. .

"Tyra Banks Quotes." BrainyQuote, 2014. Web. 10 Feb 2014. .

"Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources." The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, 2003. Web. 10 Feb 2014. .

"Marilyn Monroe Quotes." BrainyQuote, 2014. Web. 10 Feb 2014. .

Wardrop, Murray. "Kate Moss: 'Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels'." Telegraph.co.uk, 2009. Web. 10 Feb 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Fashion Industry: Free To Be An Individual

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    Berry, Hannah. “The Fashion Industry: Free to Be an Individual.” The Norton Field Guide to

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa Case Study

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions. Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002.

    Read More

  • Family Dysfunction and Anorexia: Is there a correlation?

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each year millions of people in the United States develop serious and often fatal eating disorders. More than ninety percent of those are adolescent and young women. The consequences of eating disorders are often severe--one in ten end in death from either starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Due to the recent awareness of this topic, much time and money has been attributed to eating disorders. Many measures have been taken to discover leading causes and eventual treatment for those suffering from anorexia. (http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource ...er.html#Causes of Eating Disorders) )

    Read More

  • An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3

    Read More

  • Women In 1930's Education For Women

    1405 Words  | 3 Pages

    It seems if a woman does not follow what the television or magazines do, they will be considered a ‘disgrace’ to society. “By the 1930’s, mass advertisements on radio and in magazines persuaded women to purchase cosmetic products by appealing to her fear of growing old or being rejected by social acquaintances,” (Gourley 56). The beauty industry specifically targeted women, using the ideas of an often highly feminine related idea of vanity. This also talked about women’s apparel in clothing and how they weren’t able to dress casually since they would be titled, slob. As looks represent a lot in a woman, the body type of a woman has always struggled with maintaining since the ‘perfect’ body types are not what everyone has. “In the 1890’s women had full bosoms, round hips. In actual measurements they were probably no rounder than Miss Cox but they seemed so because they were shorter, tightened their waists into an hour-glass effect … Now, though, the ideal figure must have a round, high bosom, a slim but not wasp-like waist, and gently rounded hips” (“This is What…”). Ideals women that society has pushed onto women to be for them to have any chance in romance. Though many women can drift away from this the women, though they won’t admit to it, had struggled to meet the ‘set standard’ for women. This shows how after women have gained the rights of voting, gender roles

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders

    2394 Words  | 5 Pages

    Eating Disorders." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders in the Untied States

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eating Disorders are on a rapid rise in the United States today, they sweep the halls of Junior High School, High Schools, College Campuses and even Elementary Schools. These disorders are often referred to by professionals as the “Deadly Diet,” however you may know them as Anorexia or Bulimia. Eating disorder effect more than 20% of young females and males in today’s society. Ranging in age from thirteen to forty. It is very rare for a child of a young age to not know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder or symptoms that are associated with one. Statistically it has been proven that one out of every five young woman suffer from serious issues dealing with eating and or weight. (Bruch, 25)

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders during Adolescence

    1894 Words  | 4 Pages

    An eating disorder is characterized when eating, exercise and body image become an obsession that preoccupies someone’s life. There are a variety of eating disorders that can affect a person and are associated with different characteristics and causes. Most cases can be linked to low self esteem and an attempt to, “deal with underlying psychological issues through an unhealthy relationship with food” (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood, with females being most vulner...

    Read More

  • The Need for Diversity in the Fashion Industry

    1415 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fashion models don’t need to be thin, they need to be diverse and healthy at whatever weight that is. Not everyone is supposed to be thin, some women are big boned and curvy, others are naturally slim and small boned, some are tall, others are short, some are light skinned and others are darker. So many diverse looks exist in the world today and the fashion industry need to change their perception of perfect. Body image in our society is out of control. We have young men and women comparing themselves to unrealistic models and images in the media and feeling bad about the way their own bodies look because they somehow don’t measure up. (Dunham, 2011) The struggle for models to be thin has led to models becoming anorexic or bulimic, untimely deaths, and inferiority complexes. Even worse is the fact that they influence a whole generation of young women who look up to these models and think “thin” is how they are supposed to be. They influence what we buy, how we eat and what we wear. Why has this specific group captured our attention so much? Why do we seem to be so fascinated in their lives, to the point where we try to look and act just like them? The media is largely to be blamed for this, many people believe the media has forced the notion that everything supermodels do is ideal. Others believe that the society is to be blamed because we have created a fascination with their lives. There are many opinions, and I agree with both of these specific opinions. We allow ourselves to be captivated by these people's lives, and the media portrayal of their lives seem to also enthrall us. (Customessaymeister, 2013) Despite the severe risks of forcing models to become too thin, designers, fashion editors, fashion brands and agencies still ...

    Read More

  • Understanding Eating Disorders

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    ANAD. “Eating Disorders Statistics”. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders, Inc., 2013.Web. 18 Nov 2013.

    Read More

  • The Impacts of Fast Fashion and Technology on the Fashion Industry

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    This essay will discuss Fast Fashion and the Impact of Technology. I will focus on the different levels of the market, the effect of fast fashion on fashion design, how copying effects high end designer brands and the impact of technology on the fashion industry.

    Read More

  • Harmful Effets of Photoshop

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Web. 24 Apr. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. The "Eating Disorders" University Health Center. University of Nebraska, n.d., a.d. Web.

    Read More

  • The Truth Behind the Fashion Industry.

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Fashion Industry can be described as a glamorous world with cameras flashing, beautiful models strutting down the runway, in stunning and grand designs. What really goes on behind fashion’s dolled up doors is only an illusion compared to what reality is. Beautiful people, stylish clothing and timeless sophistication all make up the illusion of the glitz and glam of the fashion industry, but behind the curtains countless of models and designers constantly fall victim to this industry’s ever changing wrath. Fashion can be defined as a popular trend especially in styles of dress, ornaments or behavior. A model is a person who poses or displays for art purposes, fashion or other products and advertising. Fashion models are used mainly to promote products focusing mostly on clothing and accessory. The two main type of modeling in the fashion industry is commercial modeling and high fashion modeling. High Fashion models usually work for campaigns, designer’s collections and magazine editorials for high fashion designers. Runway modeling also known as “catwalk modeling” is displaying fashions and is generally performed by high fashion models. In my research paper, my main focus will be the multiple effects on high fashion models based upon the industry’s unregulated standards.

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Matthews, John R. Library in a Book: Eating Disorders. New York: Facts on File Inc. 1991

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Barbie

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Eating Disorders." Doctors, Patient Care, Health Education, Medical Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.

    Read More

More about The Negative Impact of the Fashion Industry on American Teens

Open Document