If you look at the links I put in throughout the article I linked to the specific sites I drew the information from. There are two links both to one main article I drew the information from.

Also for most of the data and statistics above references the research group (mainly NPD Group) so I am sure if you googled that group plus the keywords of the study you should be able to find it online somewhere.

Hope that helps. Thanks for your comments!

Media Influence

But I think friends and the culture in school also have a large role. I see it even in elementary and middle school kids as “clicks” begin to form and some groups of girls are far more concerned with image, and terms like ugly or fat are tossed around on a regular basis. It’s tragic that children at such a young age have come to the conclusion that their individual worth depends on their outer appearance.

It’s tragic to me because it is not true. But they grow up for years believing in this system that if you look good, and you feel good you must be special. They choose friends based on this system, they make important decision based on this system, they may eventually choose a wife or a husband based on this value system and they will ultimately be disappointed when they discover the truth that in the end looks matters very little.

No one will remember how they looked, no one will care. But people will remember if they were kind or cruel, if they were compassionate or unloving. People will know and remember if you were selfish or if you genuinely cared about others. And sadly I think the value system of “appearance is what really matters” only promotes being selfish, unloving, and shallowness.

It might be “cute” for the parents now, but it’s going to be really ugly when they get older.

I think Vanessa and Kelly hits a very important point, that the parents have a tremendous influence and responsibility over the way their child views the definition of beauty. Especially at such a young age, the parents can help or hurt their own child in regards to this matter. Children learn the world through the behavior of those they observe, especially their own parents so if the parent is obsessed with beauty. But let’s be clear, this isn’t just a matter of parents wearing a lot of makeup or spending a lot of money on clothes and beauty products. I think what often goes unchecked are the remarks made out of real parental concern.

For example as a child it isn’t uncommon to have a parent comment about he or she getting fat or ‘you have to eat xxxx or you’ll get fat’, or make some off hand comment about how some girl is very pretty or some boy is very handsome. Or even continually telling their child they are pretty all the more raising the child’s desire and need to be someone “pretty”. Even comments like these if they go unchecked can really mold the type of worldview a child has in regards to how important beauty is for their own self image. A child might start really longing for remarks about their beauty or learn from their parents comments about others that beauty is a very important thing when it comes to valuing other people. As parents themselves are immersed in this culture of image, it is very easy for them to indirectly pass of their views and values to their impressionable children.

Agree? Disagree?