“The Femme Fatale Fantasy,” was an editorial – opinions article that I wrote for an assignment from when I was a print and online journalism student at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). I chose to write this editorial about the idea that society and the media’s perception of beauty and what determines the concept of beauty is often contradictory. I chose this subject because I was passionate about breaking down the concept of “the femme fatale fantasy.”

I am not Barbie– no one is. When a girl looks in the mirror she is expected to see a size zero, blue eyed, blonde haired succubus of unattainable beauty.

Society and the media’s perception of beauty and what makes a person beautiful is contradictory.

If a woman doesn’t wear makeup she is “basic” and if she does she is known as “easy” or by a word that is better left unwritten.

Attractiveness is often measured by the amount of makeup, extensions, clothes and other bodily enhancements a woman wears.

In 2019, the estimated value of the beauty industry was more than $532 billion and rising.

Not all of us can be like the photoshopped super models that you see on the covers of magazines, on billboards and TV.

The paradox that the media creates– the illusion that a person is undesirable unless they look or dress a certain way does nothing for their self-esteem.

People who suffer from low self-esteem or body image dysmorphia are more likely to experience eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Most people who suffer from an eating disorder don’t admit to it, but it is more common than one might think. It is estimated that more than 70 million people worldwide suffer from an eating disorder.

People come in all shapes and sizes. For some body types it is impossible to achieve their ideal body weights without chopping off a body part or two.

Next time you find yourself judging your imperfections remind yourself that you are perfect the way you are.

The only legit reasons to try to change yourself is if that’s what is best for you, your health and your happiness.

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