Others opt out by stuffing their negative feelings with excessive, unhealthy food or deliberately making themselves less attractive. Some try to become invisible or even mutilate themselves in reaction to the idealized mold. No girl remains unaffected. Girls with DNA not programmed to fit most of the highly improbable physical characteristics of the beauty myth just give up, often in depression. Substance abuse and irresponsible sexuality are among coping mechanisms commonly employed to deaden disappointment.
Suicide is another growing reaction to an impossible beauty quest.
By no means limited to the young, weight control has become a national obsession and a major, diversified industry. One large magazine survey found that adult women of diverse ages ranked weight loss far above all other goals in their lives. Dropping an elusive few pounds was specifically more important than family, personal relationships and career. Since the exotic model is forever young as well as thin, ultimate failure is certain. The most any post-adolescent woman can hope for is to be considered attractive despite her increasing years.