Conforming Beauty

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Her sobs echoed throughout the house as she stormed inside and slammed the door shut after running off the school bus. “Lexie, sweet heart, what’s wrong?” I asked as I looked at her face with soaking wet cheeks. She then looked up at me with bright red eyes, tears still spilling out. “Well …” Lexie said softly as I wiped her tears. “All of the kids in my class were making fun of me today because they think I’m too skinny. They said really mean things to me all day long, even after I told the teacher,” She finished. I was dumbfounded, why would appearance matter to an 8 year old? Immediately I wrapped her up in my arms and held her tight. I cheered her up with words of comfort and finished by telling her that everyone is beautiful in their own way and just because she is different from someone else doesn’t make her any less beautiful. I was enraged with anger that day for a few reasons. For one, it genuinely hurt my heart to see someone I love and care about crying so hysterically over her appearance, of all things, especially at such a young age. Lexie looked like most other 8 year old girls, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Even if there was, how would kids her age know to pay attention to such shallow things? Another reason this day hit me so hard was because it took me back. I was taken back to the very first time that I ever paid any attention to my own body image. This was probably one of the worst days of my life, because it just might have been what started it all… I stood in line with my fifth grade class, waiting for my turn to use the restroom. In the line next to me stood O’Nesha, a girl who has been mean to me since the very first time we met in second grade. I noticed her staring at me. “What?” I ask... ... middle of paper ... ...sorders. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. "What Causes Eating Disorders?" 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Hilton, Lisa. "The Fashion Industry Should Not Be Held Responsible for Eating Disorders." Eating Disorders. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. "What's Wrong with Skinny?" thedailybeast.com. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Orbach, Susie. "Market Principles Foster Dangerous Standards of Beauty." The Culture of Beauty. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Penny, Laurie. "The Media Foster Misplaced Public Concern About Anorexia." The Culture of Beauty. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Schwarz, Fred. "Images of Thin Fashion Models Do Not Play a Role in Eating Disorders." The Fashion Industry. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

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