Fashion can be a fun expression of creativity but what side effects are we subjected to by the entertainment industry in general? There are consequences to beliefs based on shallow, superficial, and inaccurate representations of our ‘true beings.’ It creates a very real persona and enforces social discrimination towards a wide spectrum of people, globally. Problematic issues emerging in these industries are often due to body shaming and mobbing.
Self love is the key
To understand the concept of body shaming, one must also examine its root causes. Body shaming is a common form of categorizing and excluding within the fashion and entertainment industries. It stems from the ideology surrounding beauty standards. The term beauty is quite subjective in nature. However, the fashion industry has been trying to define beauty standards since forever. Body shaming has become a popular social norm, where people, especially women, are defined by the way they look. This is established through the comparison of their own bodies with the bodies of a conceptual ideal.
Women in fashion and entertainment industries are often judged by the use of derogatory comments on their body shape and overall appearances. Some are considered comely and prude, while others are slut-shamed. This eventually leads to the development of a negative body image and self-esteem issues. The pressure in trying to meet the beauty standards set by these industries leads to eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa. There is also the obsession with youthfulness, as many teenagers are used as models for major fashion designers. This translates to unrealistic clothing sizes, which are based on the measurements of pubescent teenagers.
Be aware
New terms for the same old human behavior are: bullying and mobbing, which can lead to stress and anxiety in school and the workplace. According to a survey, more than 81 percent of the people we see on the big screen claimed that they were bullied or humiliated by their co-workers. This is often attributed to the general consensus that archetypical characters are expected to look and act a certain way. Which trickles down to the average person being expected to dress beyond their means. However, due to an every growing awareness in recent decades, the cultural shift of a body confidence movement within the fashion and entertainment industries has become apparent. Accompanied with this are the increased offers for inclusive beauty, which comes in all shapes, sizes and pigmentations. While this is a step in the right direction for people in general, we still have a long way to go as far as our prejudice and shared superficial human aspects.
