how do you look: standards on body image

i saw this vintage advertisement (below) and thought to myself: wow. i can't believe how much the standards on body image have changed in a matter of decades. standards on body image are culturally determined and always changing. 

despite my dieting, i'd still argue for the girl on the left. it's not about being "skinny" or "fat" –  ultimately, it's about being healthy. which is complicated when you think about it because every BODY is different. being healthy to me is a balance between physical and emotion health. that being said, i think confidence can be a true body image builder even if you have a few "extra pounds," you know? outward appearance is not always indicative of "health"

now that i'm approaching my new goal weight i want to focus on being happy and healthy. i want to maintain my weight without obsessing over calories and/or weighing myself. i want to eat nutrient rich foods and workout + treat myself every once in awhile.

soon after seeing this ad, i came across the trailer for miss representation, a documentary film about the media’s misrepresentations of women that have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. although i haven't seen the film yet, i did read through some of the information provided and (while i was at work) literally burst into tears while reading about how much young women are so affected by our culture's current body image standards. i read that the number one "magical" wish among girls is to be thinner. not to go to disney land or be president - the number one magical wish is to be thinner. how sad is that?

then again, as this advertisement points out, whether it's to be bigger or thinner there will always be "cultural standards" and at the end of the day the most important thing is to be happy and love yourself.