By Christa Zhang, University City High School
(Edited by Expressions Challenge)
What is beauty when we don’t even see beauty in ourselves? What is talent when we are all convinced that we aren’t good at anything? And more importantly, who are we, when we aren’t even aware of our self-worth? 90% of girls want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, 44% of girls are attempting to lose weight, and 7 out of 10 girls feel as though they do not measure up. It seems like everyday, more and more teenage girls are being caught up in trying to be “perfect” and becoming what society wants them to be resulting in low self-esteem.
Self-esteem is a person’s overall evaluation of his or her own worth. In today’s society, low self-esteem is on the rise. Statistics show that about 73% of girls are suffering from low self-esteem. One major reason of this is social media. Over the years, technology advances has changed and progressed, allowing the majority of families the access to television, laptops, and iPods. When we look at the models and movie stars on TV, it seems as though they are the definition of perfection, with their curves, thin waists, bouncy curls, and nice tans. Just by watching television commercials and being on the internet makes us vulnerable and causes us to be constantly reminded of what we don’t have; perfect hair, glowing skin, expensive clothes, etc. And this leads a young individual to hating their appearance. Appearance is important because it is what one presents first, and what others take in first. Looking good is one thing but feeling good is another. Most girls in adolescence are uncomfortable with their physical appearance, and this comes from more than just social media. Another big contributor to low self-esteem is the opinions of peers and friends. Friends and family members who have low self-esteem themselves often pass that trait down to those around them by discouraging them and this affects overall performance in school, social interactions with other kids, and their activities in and out of school. Those who suffer from low self-esteem are likely to be involved in things like substance abuse, poor performance in school, bullying, eating disorders, and acts of aggression. When one does not value themselves, their options seem limited and this is the point where their lives can be turned down the wrong path. Many teenage girls are in danger of risking their lives because they believe they are not worthy of doing better. Suicide, school dropout, and teen pregnancy are just some of the few problems teens get themselves into when they doubt their self-worth.
As teenage girls, our adolescent years are the years we spend figuring out who we are. Of course, there are always going to be times where we feel unworthy and insecure. But instead of picking out every flaw and everything that we don’t like, why not be grateful for the gifts God has given us? We may not have the best hair, the most expensive clothes, or know everything there is to know. We may not have the best body or the perfect curves, we may not have what our friends and neighbors have, but we are enough. We are who we are and that’s something to be grateful for.