Growing up now is a lot different than growing up even when I was 10. (And that was only 10 years ago). I see it in my 13 year old sister. Girls are a lot more critical of themselves now. They have to have this perfect image of themselves, like older women do as well. The thing is, is that they’re not just making this up by themselves, they are getting this from what is being shown to them. Whether it be on their favorite TV show, or movie, or if they are looking in magazines. Only the pretty people are being advertised. One of the more recent controversies on this topic of only advertising perfect people in a not so perfect world, is how Disney animators changed the main character of the movie Brave, Merida, to be a thinner waistline, more “sexed-up” type of girl rather than the “beautifully confident” character she used to be.
“Merida joins a barrage of thin, sultry characters for girls, making her yet another facet of our sexed-up, thinned down messaging.’ Silverman points out that the original Merida ‘was beloved for her adventurous spirit, her unique look and her disinterest in romance as her ‘goal’ in life. Her allure was not physical–which sent a strong message to girls that they could be who they are– and still be beautiful, brave and confident'” (https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/merida-disney-princess-controversial-makeover-brave-heroine-really-224924634.html).
Most little girls LOVED the movie Brave. Merida is a funny, tom-boyish character that didn’t seem to care about what she looked like. Her hair was a mess always and she was tough and confident. What is this new make-over going to tell little girls that have already seen the movie and now see the new Merida? It’s going to tell them that it’s more normal to be a thinner beautiful princess.. and not a rough looking tom-boy.
“‘I would say that Brave is aimed at kids ages 5 to 10,’ mulls Betsy Brown Braun, also a childhood behavior and development specialist. ‘That’s prime territory for being affected in terms of body image. I don’t think this one makeover is going to be earth shattering all by itself, but it’s an element that contributes to the overall picture'” (https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/merida-disney-princess-controversial-makeover-brave-heroine-really-224924634.html).
I think it important to not only advertise the perfectly skinny and good looking people. It’ll stop a lot of hate that’s going on about people not being perfect. It is crazy when big companies advertise “plus size” models that are HARDLY plus size and they get so much credit for it and they’re an amazing company because they let this bigger woman model their clothing. It shouldn’t be that way, it should be normal for ads to have bigger women and smaller women in them.
Skylar Nerone 