By Kate Halbleib
I hate to do this people, but if you’re lookingfor a column to read that is especially funny orwitty, this is not the one. Today’s column is goingto be a serious one. I happen to have a depressingsubject this week…well, at least it is to me.
I got a catalog in the mail the other day. Itwas one of those bathing suit catalogs, with dozens ofgirls prancing around on the beach in nothing butfabric swatches and dental floss. Big boobs, tinywaists, tight stomachs and thin thighs graced everypage…it was like some kind of supermodel beachparty.
Women that look like that make up about 5% of thefemale population at the very most. Half of themprobably used tons of plastic surgery to look likethat. So why does looking at these girls depress meso much? I mean, I’m not overweight. As long as Ican squeeze my fat ass into a size 7 or 8, I think I’mdoing pretty good. But, there’s always a few thingsthat could use a change. I could stand to loseseveral pounds, but I’m realistic. That’s as far asmy vanity could ever go.
There’s a girl I know who just got breastimplants. I’ve never liked her, no matter how immatureit seems. But, I feel terribly sorry for her, despitethe hard feelings between us. Any woman who feels theneed to change her appearance that dramatically (from B to DD) must have extremely low self-esteem. Plus,there’s the physical pain she must have gonethrough…and all for what? To attract more guys? Tofit the bikini-girl mold? I hear she even wanted tovisit a local strip club to prove to everybody thatshe looked better than the girls there. What could beso wrong with her mind that she’d do all this?
I just wonder if she realizes that she can neverbe her true self again. What man is ever going totake her seriously or even look at her face? I don’tmean to make men sound so superficial, but we all knowits usually true. And do you guys out there realizethat these things go on in womens’ minds? Or, do youjust reap the benefits when things like this happen?Oh ok, I’ll stop my male bashing now. Its not mens’fault anyway. I’m taking advantage of malestereotypes, and I apologize.
If not to please men, then what’s it all for? Idon’t understand why some part of every woman wants tobe something she’s not. Maybe its the media’s fault;maybe its to impress each other. I’m just not sure.Wanting to be something we’re not is unhealthy for ourminds and our bodies. Lots of women go throughdepression, develop eating disorders or resort toplastic surgery like the girl I know. But the bigquestion is: will it make them happy? Will it makesomeone love them? No, that can never happen. Loveand happiness are the two most important things anyonewill ever know in this life, and you can’t buy them orforce them. Don’t ignore who YOU really are. Be whoyou are, and accept it. That’s when love andhappiness will come to you.
