To all females....

Do you feel any pressure to conform to the standards of bodily attractiveness that the media glorifies with models? Even if just a little? I feel bad because I'm convinced that it's too late for me. I enjoy it even though I know it's fake and I feel bad sometimes because I know it is neither right nor fair and like everthing else in our society, designed to profit off of those who were convinced to feel insecure about themselves.

My Grandfather smoked his whole life. I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, 'If you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately.'. Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake. He gave it up immediately. Three years later he died of lung cancer. It was really sad and destroyed me. My mother said to me- 'Don't ever smoke. Please don't put your family through what your Grandfather put us through." I agreed. At 24, I have never touched a cigarette. I must say, I feel a very slight sense of regret for never having done it, because your post gave me cancer anyway.

Good job not smoking. http://itamejihada.net/cels/slayers/slayers/lina_inverse_cel.jpg

Well, yeah. I feel the need to diet a lot, which sucks. I also waste my money on hair care products and makeup, which also sucks. I'd like to feel more secure but I also think men have the same amount of pressure put on them, too. Especially considering all the photoshop that goes around. Most body types shown to us simply aren't reachable. I think, understanding that you can't actually have a perfect model type body, and accepting it, helps you move on though.

It's hard not to conform to beauty standards. It makes me feel a whole or better when I do beauty stuff for me instead of for others :)