I was really excited when some of my Facebook friends introduced me to the newest and hottest website, Pinterest. I quickly became addicted. I was fascinated that I was able to create albums based on my interests and day dreams. Within one day, I was able to post several pictures of my favorite vintage idols such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Tayor, and of course, Sofia Loren. I found writer’s inspiration with quotes from J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl. Not to mention, I found shirtless pictures of David Beckham, which I’m definitely not complaining about. Pinterest truly sparked my imagination, and I don’t see myself getting bored with it anytime soon.
However, there was one thing about Pinterest that truly bothered me from the beginning. It seems as if it is a culprit for “skinny” inspiration, which I find very disturbing.
Smart, beautiful, successful women have albums marked “Inspiration” or “Let’s Get In Shape!” Of course, this is understandable. It’s important to be in shape and healthy. If you are overweight and have diabetes, eating healthy and working out is essential. And young women should try to avoid these health hazards for our future. Working out is a great way to reduce stress and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
But, some these pins have gone beyond that. They are very discomforting and anorexia-invoking. Here are a few examples:
Yikes
A liquid diet?
This girl doesn
Since when is skinny equivalent to being beautiful?
Sure, because that
These type of pins are not healthy. Personally, I find them quite startling. And it seems as if almost every young woman on Pinterest has albums with pins such as these.
Of course, who are these pins targeted towards? WOMEN. Why would a woman who has a satisfying career, loving boyfriend, great friends, and a supportive family be drawn into a media-driven agenda for women to be waif thin? Men definitely don’t run home to their computers and create albums of in-shape dudes such as The Situation, Taylor Lautner, or Zac Efron. Why should we, women, be subjected towards this type of pressure? I know I am not going to take it. Come on girls, let’s be smart, stick together and fight this battle!
Real “Pinspiration”:
Think before you Pin:
- Seven million women in the United States have an eating disorder
- That is 1 in 200 women
- 5%-10% of anorexics will die within the 10 years after contracting the disease; 18%-20% will die after 20 years
- 95% of girls with an eating disorder are between the ages of 12 and 25
- 80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This was great, Maryann. Unfortunately, these ridiculous pictures and “thinspiration” aren’t only on Pinterest. There are mass amounts of blogs and websites that push “pro-ana” (anorexia) and other eating disorders and it’s really, really sad. People should be working towards getting healthy, not only skinny!
It is sad. Hopefully this post will get through to somebody. I hope young women can wake up and realize the reality of it all.
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