Chapter 14- Body Image

During the teenage year’s physical appearance is important to them. They are still self-conscious about their body and how they are developing. And some studies have shown that an adolescent will have a higher self esteem as they get older if they view themselves attractive during that stage of their life (Teen Development, 2008). According to Feldman (2007), girls will be become anxious as their body begins to change. The girls will have more communication with their mothers during their puberty time only because they need certain feminine products that their mother can provide. “Girls, in particular, are often unhappy with their new bodies” (Feldman, 2007). Some have formed an image from the media on how they should look. My daughter Victoria for example has a hard time accepting her body type and feels life is not fair because she does not look like some of her friends or people in the media. Some days she hates the way she looks and other day’s she is more accepting. I tell her how beautiful she is and I always mention her good qualities but she feels I am only saying that because I am her mother. So only if her friends tell her that she looks good then she will believe. I feel society put’s a lot of pressure on young people about their body image. Movie star’s are shown wearing the best and altering their looks everyday that young people feel they have to look the same way. If they had better role models than maybe it would not be such an issue.

Feldman, R. (2007). Child development (4th edition). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Teen Development. (2008). Retrieved July 21, 2008, from iVillage.com: http://parenting.ivillage.com/teen/tdevelopment/topics/0,,4rsr,00.html