poem about women's body image

Distorted Mirrors

She gazes into the mirror

searching for truth

but finds only faults

her perspective misconstrued

tainted by the media's lies

bombarded by toothpick thin girls in magazines

touched up meticulously

distorted well beyond the point of recognition

transforming unrealistic models

into impossibly flawless mannequins

in which young girls all over

aspire to imitate

She doesn't see the beautiful human staring back at her in the mirror

instead she sees a total stranger

full of blaring imperfections

the bump on her cheek

her thighs too plump

her lips too slim

and her figure never slim enough

she was no barbie 

and no super model

a brilliant student

a kind compassionate friend

but these were not societal values

for looks are everything

and perfection is our goal

she overlooked the lively sparkle in her pensive eyes

along with her beaming dimples when she smiled

didn't see the beauty in her artful expressive arms or the way her lovely long tresses swayed in the wind

she's been taught to be a trouble shooter

not an appreciator, overlooking her unique beauty

she skips another meal ingoring the desperate pleas of her boney body

though her bones show thru her skin

her little body's been starved for appreciation 

even more than food

Jan 2007 by Ilana Cofield

Popular Men's Magazine Covers

Looking at these covers of men's magazines tells a lot about how our society thinks of women.  All these covers show women exposing themselves in seductive poses. Arched backs, breasts pushed out, and giving the audience the "male gaze".  The cover stories feature "Sexiest Women Alive",  how to have more sex, and other articles about telling men how to get women to sleep with them.  

Popular Women's Magazine Covers

Popular Women's Magazine Covers

Notice how all of them talk about sex in a way that should be pleasing to the man.  What does this say about women's sexuality?  That we aren't really supposed to enjoy sex. 

Another thing they use to sell issues is trying to tell women that we should always be on some type of diet.  We are always overweight so we should do something about it.  This can give women, regardless of race or economic status, self-esteem issues.

Subscribe to Cosmo....No Thanks!

             Why is it that women's "general interest" magazines feature lame cover stories such as "The Secret Girlfriend Weapon to Keep him Satisfied" when men's magazines have nothing about keeping women satisfied.   It seems as if women are being sold magazines that keep us trained to behave a certain way and that way is to keep men happy.  I thought we were over that but I guess not.  Furthermore, the creators of these magazines assume that all of their reader's are heterosexual and middle class.   

             Looking at a men's magazine like Maxim, it is the total opposite of what the women's magazines suggest.  Instead women are seductively posed, wearing next to nothing.  There are photo spreads titled, "The Most Beautiful Women on the Planet."  Maybe they are, but couldn't any woman be just as beautiful with a full team of assistance including hair, make up and professionally airbrushed pictures?  In the case of men's magazines women are the product.  Women are being sold as a commodity.