Girls are raised to have low self esteem

1 "They are surrounded by pictures, and shows, and movies of the "perfect body" You are correct by saying that many girls realize that stars are on special diets and exercise plans, but there are some contradictions. Do kindergarteners playing with Barbies know what a diet is? Do little girls watching commercials understand what exercise plans and even celebrities are? Children piece things together, that's how we learn. In order to get things, you must say please, so we do. You see your parents getting the spoons from the drawer on the left, so you go there when you need one. All the girls being called beautiful are skinny, so skinny must be beautiful. Up until the age of 6, we follow the monkey see monkey do system. When they do reach the age of realizing what's real and what's not, the foundation has already been planted. In contrast to this, boys do not think the way that girls do, this is a proven fact. Though some guys do have insecurities and confidence issues, it is not as prominent as within the females. In my experience, most men aren't concerned about being skinny, and having perfect hair and the best makeup. 2 "We live in a world of comparisons. Something is always better or worse than something else." I'm underestimating how kids are these days? "These days" teenagers are cutting and falling into depression. "These days" people are starving themselves and are even moved to permanently remove their lives. Do you know how these feelings start? They start with "she is prettier" and "her makeup looks better" and "I will never look as good as she does". Girls aren't thinking about how they have better grades then the prettier girl when they're starving themselves. They aren't thinking about their "better attributes" when they slit their wrists. According to samhsa.gov, "an annual average of 1.4 million adolescent girls age 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.” 1.4 million girls and what exactly do you think the issue is? I think you are "kinda underestimating" the seriousness of this problem. 3 "They are shown at a very young age that there is a requirement for love and happiness" All girls remember growing up watching those Disney princesses and perfect romances. They see those gorgeous girls being swept up by an amazing guy and magically fixing all their problems, and they believe it. They believe it with all their hearts because in that point in time, that is reality. Godmothers and balls and that perfect kiss is their reality. And what do all those girls have in common? They all have perfect bodies, and flawless make-up and the ability to be at the right place at just the right time. All those children will hold on to this false sense of security until that day they grow up and find out that princes don't exist and there is no fairy godmother to save the day. Even though they mature and learn, that fantasy is still in the back of their heads. They hold on to the fact that in order to be loved and cherished, you must fit the status quo. I am not telling you to tell your daughter that she will never find love, I am telling you to tell your daughter that she is beautiful just the way she is and one day a man will appreciate that and love her unconditionally. All those things going on in the tv aren't real yet they are pushed upon and targeted towards young children, do you ever wonder why? Moreover, I understand that the guy has to pay for the date and work up the courage to ask a girl out, but have you thought about the other end? In order to be asked out, you need to be chosen. What happens to those unchosen ones? How will they feel about themselves and how can they help comparing themselves to the "chosen" ones.