![Low body esteem is affecting young girls. [Nicole Cook/Youtube screencap]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/5/660x290/b_502x220x82/low-body-esteem-is-affecting-young-girls-nicole-cookyoutube_1613903.jpg "Low body esteem is affecting young girls. [Nicole Cook/Youtube screencap]")
A recent report reveals that a significant section of young girls skips a meal; avoids participation in extra-curricular activities, socializing with friends or relatives or even visiting doctors due to Low body esteem.
About the recent survey
According to The Guardian, a recent survey was conducted by the Edelman Intelligence for the 2017 Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report after interviews with 5,165 teenage girls from 14 countries across the globe. The survey confirmed that only about 46 percent of girls from around the world had high body esteem.
In fact, the figure dropped down to 39% in the UK; while China and Japan scored even worse than that. The other countries, chosen for the research were Turkey, India, Australia, Canada, Russia, Germany, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil.
The result of the survey
The research further revealed that at least seven out of ten girls had admitted the fact that they choose to starve themselves and put themselves at a higher health risk; on the other hand, eight out of ten girls admitted the fact that they avoid socializing with people due to low body esteem. Needless to say that, these girls are more vulnerable to social pressures due to their appearance and prefer to confine themselves from the normal life as a consequence of low confidence, self-dissatisfaction, and self-esteem.
The expert opinions
Associate professor of Appearance Research of the University of the West of England Phillippa Diedrichs mentioned that these findings affirm that, despite vigorous efforts, the concept of Body Image persists as a serious issue among the young girls. Even though seven out of ten girls admitted that the photos of beautiful women in posters, advertisements, and magazines represent unrealistic aspirations, the girls with lower body esteem tend to feel pressurized by those images.
Diedrichs further added that the social and cultural environment must change, to help the young girls in overcoming the impact of beauty, appearance and body image.
An adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School Jess Weiner believes that a curriculum must be introduced to educate young girls about media literacy and to minimise the effects of low body esteem. The curriculum will not only help the girls in identifying the compound problems like hypersexualization, gender inequality, stereotypes, and violence but also combating them effectively.
