Body Image- Flesh and Blood, Not Plastic and Paint

In “How Far Will We Go to Change Our Body Image” by Jillian Croll, she makes an effective argument on how distorted our idea of the “perfect body” really is. Croll includes a table called “If Barbie and Ken were real” that shows a shocking reality. The proportions of these dolls that little children idolize are completely unrealistic and disturbing. As a little girl, I loved playing with my Barbie dolls and remember dressing her in all the cute little outfits she could wear. However, what I didn’t realize is that I was being influenced, at a very impressionable age, to think a certain way about what classifies a woman as “beautiful.” She is tall, slender, and can wear a whole array of form-fitting clothing. However, the average woman is not so tall and may need to try on that cute outfit first to be sure it zips properly. Being one of those average women, I am really glad she addressed this and I agree that we are not taught healthy body image. Girls are not alone; boys too have a similar problem. Croll emphasizes that not only women are targeted, I like that she stresses this because women are not different from men in having their own idea of body image. Think of Ken or GI-Joe, those defined arm and leg muscles might be a little much to ask of an eight year old. These high expectations are hardly obtainable and low self-esteem can result. We have to remember, we are not plastic!

Croll, Jillian. "How Far Will We Go To Change Our Body Image?" New York: Morrow, 1985. Rpt. in Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2009. 535-541