Brainwashed Beauty
Updated: Jul 2, 2022
why mainstream media has transformed a generation's perception of themselves, part three
Written by Stephanie O.
Author's Note:
1.) TW: fatphobia, EDs (especially anorexia)
2.) this is written from the perspective of a skinny girl (according to my medical records), so I have not experienced any form of fatphobia or anybody issues for that matter. I am fully aware of this privilege as I write this article.
3.) this post was planned to come out earlier, but due to scheduling changes, is releasing now. I apologize for the discrepancy!
The F Word
The 'F-word' I'm referring to is fat, since many have treated the word as something foul and dirty. Fatphobia has existed for as long as people have remembered. And it has existed in many different forms.
One of its newest forms is one-size-only clothing. If you've been in a Brandy Melville, you know what I mean. One-size-only is literally what it means- one size fits all. However, Brandy Melville's case is a bit of a contradiction. Their one-size only is a small/x-small, proven by many who have worn their clothing (I'm serious, check the reviews).
By casting this illusion that their clothing fits all, those who can't fit into it are manipulated into thinking that they can't fit a size that's supposed to fit all. Yet Brandy Melville is so popular- it's become a trend all over Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube (see 'Brandy Hauls'), and much more. With millions of followers from all across the world on their Instagram, you'd think they'd be as diverse as their target audience. But all their models are thin, skinny, and white in their photos. And those Youtube Brandy Hauls I talked about previously are created by those who reflect Brandy's models, the same thin, skinny, and white folks.
And the molehill becomes a mountain. Surveys have shown that because Brandy Melville (and so many other brands like this) is so popular amongst 13-17-year-olds, 53-78% of that age group are unhappy with their bodies. But it's not just Brandy Melville that has been contributing to the increase of fatphobia and body insecurity.
Skinny is the New Fat
Quick history lesson for you: did you know that being large was what was desired during the 1500s and 1900s? Being larger in weight meant that you had food, and having food meant that you had money. Being skinny was seen as a physical form of poverty. But what I want you to take away from this is a philosophy lesson instead: the standard of beauty is always changing, as are you. Beauty is something that cannot be defined with standards set by an undefined society.
So today's society has set skinny as the beauty standard. However, it's not exactly called a standard these days, instead, an 'aesthetic'. To define the word 'aesthetic', the Merriam-Webster dictionary states that it is a particular theory, conception, or taste appealing to the senses of beauty or art. Most people look to social media for these aesthetics, such as Pinterest and Tiktok.
For any Tumblr veterans, picture 2014. From personal experience, the trend was being paler and skinner. For example, the 'pro-Ana', or pro-anorexia (not limited to anorexia, however, multiple EDs are promoted) movement had its grassroots on Tumblr. "Thinspo"- or inspiration to be thinner- was exploding all around until new guidelines restricted it (or did it?).
Now, it's more conspicuous. Take the cottagecore aesthetic. On Pinterest, if you searched it up right now, you'd see, and would ONLY see thin white girls, and fashion that appeals only to those who are skinny. Most aesthetics only feature that standard. However, you're going to see a lot more thinner people, regardless of race or sex, based on multiple people's accounts and my own.
In addition, some filters that have gone viral are notorious for slimming down people's faces. Tiktok and Youtube's 'challenges' can take a harmful turn- for example, glowups. Viewers that participate in these 'glow-ups' are usually seen at the beginning of the videos to be bigger, then 'glow-up', or transition, into a slimmer, "prettier" version of themselves.
Algorithm Antics
However, is it truly Pinterest's, Tiktok's, or Youtube's fault? Or any social media's fault for that matter?
The short answer is: YES. Social media users know the so-called 'algorithm' in and out. The algorithm is known as a mathematical set of rules that specify how a group of data behaves (https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/how-do-social-media-algorithms-work).
The algorithm essentially controls what users see based on what they follow, view, or like (in the majority of instances). But these algorithms have been known to favor certain posts while censoring others. Something straight out of Fahrenheit 451, am I right?
Instagram has been called out for censoring bigger bodies, yet not doing the same for smaller ones on their Explore page. Plus-size models have been struck down by Instagram's iron fist of fatphobia. Tiktok does the same with their For You page- their old policies had any 'abnormal body shapes, chubby, obese, or too thin' people taken down.
By silencing and striking down a large demographic of already marginalized people, just feeds more fire in the anti-fat movement. If you can't see plus-size creators, you're just left with skinner ones. These thin people are seemingly the only ones that can participate in these trends, like cottage core, mentioned earlier. Slimmer people tend to go viral more often than not. These thin people become your only source of beauty, and your mind tends to blend the line between them.
’Diet Culture Vultures’
Never have I thought that I would've used a quote from Demi Lovato in a blog talking about social media's effects during a global pandemic, but here I am. Anyways, the quote comes from Demi Lovato's Instagram story, where they called out The Bigg Chill Yogurt Shop in Los Angeles for selling and advertising sugar-free diet cookies. Demi Lovato has previously suffered from eating disorders, giving a motive to why they called out the yogurt place.
While Lovato may have been in the wrong to call out the yogurt place (considering that maybe those sugar-free cookies are for diabetics/those who can't consume sugar), it does give insight into how harmful diet culture can actually be. To preface this: dieting for the correct reasons is NOT inherently bad, yet when it encourages ridiculous extreme weight loss, restricting or punishing yourself, or promoting diet culture.
Diet culture is an industry that has fed off of so many insecurities (sound familiar?) in order to profit off of its victims. The market weight loss pills (which are only ok if prescribed from a doctor!) and shakes and meal plans. They create workouts that can sell a false truth. But what they do best is pushing the anti-fat rhetoric. They promote the current beauty standard- thin and skinny- so they make the general public insecure about themselves.
This is where social media comes in. Influencers, especially on Instagram, promote these pills and diets. Celebrities do it as well, by creating new hashtags that promote this body image. With famous people, role models, someone that others look up to, promoting this toxic diet culture, it's easy to see how harmful it is.
What Do We Do?
This series has been a long one, one that seems like me ranting and complaining about how awful this world is. And it is (sort of). The purpose was to educate and learn about what social media does to you.
So what do we do now? What can we do to fix it? Those two questions have been on my mind for so long. We're trapped, with no escape; the prison of social media is endless. But at least you know what you're getting into. Knowledge is power. It's time to apply that knowledge.
To beat the algorithms, only follow people that make you feel good about yourself. Support the marginalized communities affected by these bans. Educate yourself on WHY they're marginalized in the first place.
One of the most important steps is to work on yourself. Going to a licensed therapist is a wonderful option. However, if you do not have access to one, or believe it isn't that serious for you, yet still feel these effects from social media, it's time to redefine what you find beautiful. Take a break. Put your goddamn phone down, or if that's too hard (trust me, I understand), support people that look like you instead.
Learning to find beauty in yourself is one of the hardest things you'll ever do. But baby steps can lead to a tremendous change in who you are, and maybe soon, society itself. Until then, I want you to know I am so proud of every single one of you, and that you're beautiful, no matter what social media or society says.
Stay safe!
Sources:
Brandy Melville's 'one-size only':
Pro-Ana:
Instagram's Algorithm:
Tiktok's Algorithm:
Demi Lovato:
**The article uses incorrect pronouns for Demi Lovato, they go by they/them
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