Amy Love

Opinions Editor

aml7458@psu.edu

A middle school that is located in Mississippi has recently sent their female students home with a document addressed to guardians of the students. The document was titled, “Why Do Girls Suffer From Body Image?”

The team of counselors at this school wanted to offer support to female students, hoping to create an open, safe discussion regarding body positivity. The intentions of the letter were admirable, yet the content of the letter was poor. 

Majority of the information in the letter was factually correct, stating that many young girls struggle regarding their appearance and it can be detrimental to their self-esteem. 

It defined the concept of body image being the “perception of one’s body, and simultaneously, a measure of one’s attractiveness.” 

These statements are not where these counselors went wrong. Body image is a concept many will struggle with, and counselors at this school wanted to make a difference in this girl’s life. The counselors directly said “we can take steps to help our girls develop a healthier body image.” 

At the end of the letter, there is a section where guardians could consent to it. They can consent to their daughters receiving “healthy literature” and any shapewear the student desires.  

I fail to see how to offer shapewear, which are articles of clothing that serve a purpose of molding the body. It allows the wear to appear more slim. 

It was contradictory for this school to offer a program to create healthier body image, and then offer items that do not adhere to the movement. 

If a mother did not become outraged by this and inform the school of her displeasure, what program would this school have inflicted on their female students?

These counselors are not only offering shapewear, but are practically encouraging it for the female students. 

This is allowing young girls to further confirm their thoughts of needing to change their body. The concept the counselors were attempting to accomplish was to eliminate any pessimistic  thoughts young girls may have on their appearance, yet that idea is not conveyed. It is a temporary elimination, but it is not teaching them to accept their bodies. This teaches the students on how to manipulate their body to conform to society’s beauty standards. 

Rather than promoting the ideas of loving your body as is and not trying to appease beauty standards, it is further encouraging individuals to reach for that unattainable body’s goal that is presented on social media and even offering materials to help attain that goal.