Healthy Body Image: A Positive Externality
As an undergraduate, I earned my degree in economics. Practically speaking, I've used my skills to comparison shop at Costco and teach my children to pay their tithing but the theories of economics have many metaphorical applications which influence me significantly in how I look at the world.
I see a
significant analogy between childhood vaccinations and positive body image
among women. Economists would categorize immunizations as a "positive
externality" because there are benefits beyond those accrued to the
immunized. If my daughter is vaccinated against chicken pox, your daughter is
less likely to contract the disease, as well. Furthermore, immunizations are
somewhat unique among positive externalities because the benefits to a
population increase exponentially as more children are immunized. In fact,
there reaches a point where, like the U.S. has seen with polio, if a large
enough percentage of children are vaccinated, the disease can be virtually eradicated.
Understanding,
and helping our girls understand, the adversary's destructive deceptions about
beauty is very much like immunizing our community against a devastating
disease. The more we all work together, the more potent the vaccine.
Our
scriptural theme, ". . . the Lord looketh upon the heart," is a
fabulous place to begin a discussion about positive body image. The phrase
comes from the first book of Samuel in the Old Testament. King Saul has been
deemed an unrighteous ruler, and the Lord has directed Samuel to find his
replacement, telling him to go to the house of Jesse and there he will be led
to choose from among his many sons. The prophet Samuel calls the first son
before him and assumes, based on his appearance, that he is the Lord's chosen
replacement for Saul. But the Lord tells Samuel basically "looks aren't
everything." The oldest son may appear regal but, unlike men who look upon
the outward appearance, the Lord will base this selection on "the
heart." Obediently, Samuel continues to inspect Jesse's next several sons,
all to no avail. Finally, Cinderella-style, Samuel asks if there are any other
sons in the family. Almost as an afterthought, Jesse mentions his youngest son,
a mere lad, who is out tending the sheep. This is David, pre-Goliath, mind you,
and when he is brought before Samuel, the prophet is inspired to recognize the
truly royal in him, and he is anointed Israel's future king.
I find it
comforting that even a prophet of the Lord needed a gentle reminder to value
inward beauty over outward. We are all guilty of this error from time to time,
whether it's failing to see the beauty in others or in ourselves.
Mirrors
Surely we
all know and believe that:
"The mirror which [our Father in
Heaven] holds constantly before us, if we will only raise our sight to look, is
the one in which we should trust. Its image is always true and never
distorted."[1]
Beauty, or,
more accurately, the adversary's distortion of beauty, is one of the massive
stumbling blocks women, and especially young women, face today. As statistics
show, it is literally an epidemic.
·
Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable using
the word "beautiful" to describe themselves.[2]
·
80% of women agree that "every woman has
something about her that is beautiful," but they do not see their own
beauty.[3]
Wouldn't we all agree that none of us want women, young or old, to believe that being female means being constantly worried about one's appearance? All that negative introspection blocks the outer-directed self-confidence the Lord wants us to have, self-confidence that is truly empowering. Having a positive body image is extremely important for healthy and happy living, and it's something girls struggle with.
The goal of this blog is to help us gain a better understanding of the deceptions and distortions women face regarding beauty, and to energize each of us to become more committed to looking in the Lord's mirror, and then sharing that vision with others.
Please take this discussion into your circles of influence and start immunizing! I want you to have easy access to the useful research, helpful ideas, and inspirational articles and quotes I've compiled in the past several months. Hopefully you'll find the perfect thing to help you cure what might be ailing your girls.
[1]Elder Lynn G. Robbins, "True Beauty," The New Era, Nov. 2008.
[3]
Ibid.
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