Recently, I found myself at a popular clothing store with my daughters, Lily and Mia. They were excitedly trying on a variety of outfits, from dresses to pants, just like we usually do. Our typical experience involves a fun dressing room session where the girls emerge one by one, showcasing their picks as if they were strutting down a fashion runway. In the past, I’d always been ready with enthusiastic compliments as they spun around, beaming with joy. We’d then grab the clothes, head to the register, and leave feeling accomplished. But this time, things took a turn.
Lily, who is now seven, has grown into a spirited and lovely girl. However, she is also becoming more aware of societal perceptions, despite my partner and I attempting to shield her from negative influences. On this particular day, when Lily stepped out of the dressing room and did her twirl, I noticed something was off. Instead of her usual smile, she looked at her reflection and said, “This dress makes me look F-A-T.” She didn’t say the word outright; she simply spelled it out, her eyes fixed on her reflection. In that moment, I realized that she would never again view her image in the mirror without considering how it measured up to societal standards.
We discussed why the dress didn’t fit the way she hoped. A helpful employee offered to fetch us a few belts to try and improve the fit, which added a bit of positivity to the situation. With some assistance from her mom, Lily tried on several more outfits, eventually finding a couple of adorable dresses that suited her perfectly.
Yet, this shopping trip symbolized so much more than just finding a new dress. Years of nurturing her self-esteem, teaching her that beauty comes from within, seemed to hang in the balance over one simple comment in a dressing room. With the constant flood of images from television, magazines, and social media, alongside the influence of a parent who has faced weight struggles, it’s no wonder Lily started scrutinizing her own body image. But that doesn’t make it any less troubling.
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Summary:
This piece reflects on a transformative shopping trip where a young girl begins to grapple with body image issues for the first time, highlighting the impact of societal standards and parental influences on self-perception.