I also remember staring at those magazine covers of bone thin celebrities, like Nicole Richie, and the Olsen Twins, and I very soon after that developed an eating disorder. It was very rough in the 2000's. One thing I do think has improved is size variety in clothes. Everything used to run soooo small and there was not really many plus size clothes. I remember thinking I was fat because I wore a size medium at forever 21. (I was not fat at all.) I still think we have a ways to go to making fashion accessible to everyone, but I think it is much better than the early to mid-2000's. As I get older I definitely feel the pressure to look young still.
"I just assumed that the smooth skin was merely added on as a beauty standard (I'm a child in Korea, so I never experienced the turbulent times of the 00s), because from my experience there didn't seem to be that much of a reduction in expectations for girls' bodies. Pro-ana groups, body check TikToks, and the dehumanization of fat people still exist and are thriving. Again, I wasn't conscious in the 00s, so I don't know how bad it was. Anyway, amazing piece, I love your writing style.
Great post. What are your thoughts on role theory with the observation you made about the Sephora kids? Could their role be challenged from a former paradigm we collectively have been taught to see children as?
I remember vaguely learning in school about how at one point, kids had full time jobs and married super young too. Then there were child labor laws put in place and a rationale that children ought to have a dreamy childhood experience so to speak. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this!
So often I find myself thinking about how women are forced to strive for perfection that only exists in the future or past and never in the present. Apart from mental, emotional, physical, and social cages, we are forced in a temporal one too…
A bit late to the party, but I used to be obsessed with counting calories in High School. I had a crush on a guy whom it felt like he'd never look my way. With the way he talked about other girls to his guy friends, it hurt me.
I feel so bad for those little “kid influencers “ . Child labor is rearing it’s ugly head whereever it can
Frrrr
I also remember staring at those magazine covers of bone thin celebrities, like Nicole Richie, and the Olsen Twins, and I very soon after that developed an eating disorder. It was very rough in the 2000's. One thing I do think has improved is size variety in clothes. Everything used to run soooo small and there was not really many plus size clothes. I remember thinking I was fat because I wore a size medium at forever 21. (I was not fat at all.) I still think we have a ways to go to making fashion accessible to everyone, but I think it is much better than the early to mid-2000's. As I get older I definitely feel the pressure to look young still.
"I just assumed that the smooth skin was merely added on as a beauty standard (I'm a child in Korea, so I never experienced the turbulent times of the 00s), because from my experience there didn't seem to be that much of a reduction in expectations for girls' bodies. Pro-ana groups, body check TikToks, and the dehumanization of fat people still exist and are thriving. Again, I wasn't conscious in the 00s, so I don't know how bad it was. Anyway, amazing piece, I love your writing style.
Great post. What are your thoughts on role theory with the observation you made about the Sephora kids? Could their role be challenged from a former paradigm we collectively have been taught to see children as?
I remember vaguely learning in school about how at one point, kids had full time jobs and married super young too. Then there were child labor laws put in place and a rationale that children ought to have a dreamy childhood experience so to speak. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this!
This was such a painfully cathartic read.
So often I find myself thinking about how women are forced to strive for perfection that only exists in the future or past and never in the present. Apart from mental, emotional, physical, and social cages, we are forced in a temporal one too…
A bit late to the party, but I used to be obsessed with counting calories in High School. I had a crush on a guy whom it felt like he'd never look my way. With the way he talked about other girls to his guy friends, it hurt me.
This is a phenomenal piece. I love all of your work. Thank you for doing such incredible deep dives into every topic you talk about.
Thank you so much!! That means a lot ☺️💖