Something dramatic happens to girls in early adolescence. Just as planes and ships disappear mysteriously into the Bermuda Triangle, so do the selves of girls go down in droves.
Mary PipherRead
Girls developed eating disorders when our culture developed a standard of beauty that they couldn't obtain by being healthy. When unnatural thinness became attractive, girls did unnatural things to be thin.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how societal pressures regarding beauty can lead to unhealthy behaviors, particularly among girls.
Mary Pipher's quote reveals the damaging effects of cultural beauty standards that prioritize unnatural thinness over health. This relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal can drive individuals, especially young girls, to engage in harmful behaviors, compromising their physical and mental well-being in the process.
Themes
Eating DisordersBeauty StandardsHealthThinnessSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a mental health awareness seminar, this quote can be used to discuss the impact of media on self-image.
More from Mary Pipher
All quotes →People come here penniless but not cultureless. They bring us gifts. We can synthesize the best of our traditions with the best of theirs. We can teach and learn from each other to produce a better America.
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When one of us tells the truth, he makes it easier for all of us to open our hearts to our pain and that of others.
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