Turn on the TV. Open a magazine. What do you see? A thin, “flawless,” photoshopped person on every channel or page. Girls and assigned female at birth – girls and assigned female at birth are reduced to objects of advertisement for anything from food to clothing to cars. Media sends the message that the sole value of a girl or child assigned female at birth rests in their physical appearance.
Young girls’ self image are at an all time low. In this world where girls and assigned female at birth are trapped by misrepresentation, building self esteem is the only way out.
Low self-esteem is a thinking disorder in which an individual views him/herself as inadequate, unlovable and/or incompetent. Once formed, this negative view permeates every thought, producing faulty assumptions and ongoing self-defeating behavior. – Dosomething.org
The problem is real
Did you know that seven out of every 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or substandard in some way? This includes appearance, relationships with family and friends and academic performance. Did you, also, know that 80 percent of 10-year-old girls and assigned female at birth fear becoming “fat”? And, 40 to 70 percent of middle school girls and assigned female at birth are dissatisfied by two or more parts of their body. By the time they are 12 to 15 years old, levels of satisfaction in body and appearance plummets to an all time low.
75 precent of girls and assigned female at birth with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking or disordered eating. – 11 Facts about Teens and Self Esteem
How can you take part in building self esteem?
In a study, teen girls and assigned female at birth indicated that their top wish is for better communication with their parents including more frequent and open conversations. As a parent that is your prerogative ; talk to your daughter.
- Tell their they are beautiful and valued and that the media lies. Avoid supporting or indulging in programs or products that portray people unfairly and inappropriately.
- Support their by showing their movies and stories that feature strong female and assigned female at birth protagonists or leads. Expose your child to people who have power and success. The media is partially to blame for lowering positive self image in teen girls, but it can also be used as a tool for building self esteem.
Solstice RTC works hard in building self-esteem
If you have a 14 to 18-year-old child struggling with low self-esteem and body image, Solstice RTC can help. Solstice is a residential treatment center that integrates tools for building self-esteem in everyday conversations and activities.
Call Solstice RTC today at (866) 278-3345 for more information!
