How We Forget In the words of Christina Ricci, “Any obsession is dangerous.” This can be applied in today’s society, as we seem to have a never-ending list of obsessions. Whatever they may be, these obsessions come in many forms, and are omnipresent in our lives. However, society’s obsession with beauty, social media, and celebrities seem to be the most prominent, and have the most damaging effects on the human race as a whole.
The pressure to be beautiful is one of society’s greatest and most damaging obsessions. However, the pressure differs between the two different genders. In general, females seem to have a tighter standard for beauty. We are taught from a young age that to be considered worthy, we must look and act a certain way (Killing …show more content…
The purpose of these advertisements may only be to sell a product, but at what cost? In the past three years, the number of teenagers being treated for eating disorders has doubled, and it is not merely a coincidence (The Rise and Rise of Anorexia). Instead, there is a direct correlation between the rise of eating disorders and the beauty standards that have been set for women. Because they are constantly told how to look, especially in regards to weight, it is very understandable that the percentage of women and girls being treated for eating disorders has gone up substantially in recent years. In her poem “How We Forget,” Loyce Gayo says “I forgot balancing is no longer an act when you’re hiding behind imported hair, a downloaded smile, and a voice trained to jump through hoops… for your snaps and applause,” (How We Forget). In my opinion, Gayo is trying to say that we try so hard to be beautiful, but it is not for ourselves. I have seen the people that I love putting themselves through hell for the sake of “beauty.” However, it is not for themselves, but for the approval of those around them. The problem is not that people are putting on too much makeup or that they are wearing revealing …show more content…
By definition, obsession is “an activity that someone is very interested in or spends a lot of time doing,” (Obsession). Based on this, it is very easy to say that my generation is obsessed with social media in all of its forms. Unfortunately, this obsession does not come without consequences. One major consequence is that teens using social media often have a hard time in face-to-face social situations (Impact of Social Media). Many times, people have told me that they will “just email me” instead of telling me in person. This has always come as a surprise to me, because I find it easier to talk to people face to face. I think that the appeal of talking behind a screen is that users have time to consider an appropriate response. It does not seem as if they are put on the spot, because they have a period of time to think of an ideal reply. Another major issue with the obsession with social media is that it has a substantial effect on student’s education. A study found that students who used Facebook at least once daily, had a grade point average approximately a full point lower than students who did not (Teens Spend). During the application process, colleges will not be forgiving if someone’s grade point average is low due to social media constantly distracting
The pressure to be beautiful is one of society’s greatest and most damaging obsessions. However, the pressure differs between the two different genders. In general, females seem to have a tighter standard for beauty. We are taught from a young age that to be considered worthy, we must look and act a certain way (Killing …show more content…
The purpose of these advertisements may only be to sell a product, but at what cost? In the past three years, the number of teenagers being treated for eating disorders has doubled, and it is not merely a coincidence (The Rise and Rise of Anorexia). Instead, there is a direct correlation between the rise of eating disorders and the beauty standards that have been set for women. Because they are constantly told how to look, especially in regards to weight, it is very understandable that the percentage of women and girls being treated for eating disorders has gone up substantially in recent years. In her poem “How We Forget,” Loyce Gayo says “I forgot balancing is no longer an act when you’re hiding behind imported hair, a downloaded smile, and a voice trained to jump through hoops… for your snaps and applause,” (How We Forget). In my opinion, Gayo is trying to say that we try so hard to be beautiful, but it is not for ourselves. I have seen the people that I love putting themselves through hell for the sake of “beauty.” However, it is not for themselves, but for the approval of those around them. The problem is not that people are putting on too much makeup or that they are wearing revealing …show more content…
By definition, obsession is “an activity that someone is very interested in or spends a lot of time doing,” (Obsession). Based on this, it is very easy to say that my generation is obsessed with social media in all of its forms. Unfortunately, this obsession does not come without consequences. One major consequence is that teens using social media often have a hard time in face-to-face social situations (Impact of Social Media). Many times, people have told me that they will “just email me” instead of telling me in person. This has always come as a surprise to me, because I find it easier to talk to people face to face. I think that the appeal of talking behind a screen is that users have time to consider an appropriate response. It does not seem as if they are put on the spot, because they have a period of time to think of an ideal reply. Another major issue with the obsession with social media is that it has a substantial effect on student’s education. A study found that students who used Facebook at least once daily, had a grade point average approximately a full point lower than students who did not (Teens Spend). During the application process, colleges will not be forgiving if someone’s grade point average is low due to social media constantly distracting