Life

Leona O'Neill : It's terrible that so many girls are unhappy with how they look

Societal pressure about body image is a huge and growing problem, particularly among girls, who are 13 times more likely than boys to receive help from Childline in the north for worries about how they look. It's something that calls for much more awareness and support, writes Leona O'Neill

What mums say about my own appearance, and their attitude to and confidence in how they look will have an impact on their daughters
What mums say about my own appearance, and their attitude to and confidence in how they look will have an impact on their daughters What mums say about my own appearance, and their attitude to and confidence in how they look will have an impact on their daughters

THEY say sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me, but that is not the case with regards body image and our children.

My daughter is seven years old. She is still at an age where I can tell her she is beautiful inside and out and she will believe me. She hasn’t yet reached a point in her life where images on television and in the media will convince her that an unrealistic and humanly impossible standard of beauty and perfection has to be reached in order to have a happy and successful life.

I’m careful in my choice of words around her. I know that what I say about my own appearance, and my attitude to and confidence in how I look will have an impact on her. I’m conscious that if she hears me complaining that I am ‘fat’ or ‘ugly’ she may associate my body image comments with her own appearance.

I want her to grow up with confidence in herself. I want her to be individual, unique and to love herself. I tell her she is beautiful in every way, every day, in a hope that these words and this love will build some manner of armour around my girl for the confidence-busting missiles that will inevitably be fired at her in life. I want that armour to be impenetrable.

According to Childline, girls from Northern Ireland are 13 times more likely than boys to receive help from them for worries about their weight, problems with acne and generally how they look.

Exposure to ‘body perfect’ images on TV, in magazines and across social media is cited as one of the reasons why girls in particular are so unhappy with their appearance. These issues were heightened when the individual also suffered bullying at school and online, driving some victims to try and change the way they look.

A number of young people who were counselled by Childline about how they look also revealed that they were struggling with self-esteem issues, depression and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

According to Childline, one 12-year-old girl told them: “I’m feeling really sad and I don’t like myself. I keep comparing myself to pictures of people in magazines and people on TV and I wish I looked like them. I don’t want to talk to people about this because I don’t want to worry them.”

Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen said she was extremely concerned about the issue and said that it was important children didn't feel alone in their feelings.

“It’s very sad and extremely worrying that girls in particular are so unhappy with the way they look. Without the right support and a general change in attitude across society there is a real danger these issues could intensify and continue into adulthood.

“It’s important all young people realise that everyone is different and everyone has the right to grow up slowly and be comfortable in their own skin. Childline will continue to provide vital support for young people to ensure those on a journey of self-acceptance never feel alone."

TV personality and body image campaigner Stacey Solomon said that social media had a big part to play.

“Childhood should be a happy, care-free time but these figures show that many young people are getting old before their time," she said. “The 24-hour nature of social media along with the constant stream of airbrushed images on television and in magazines is encouraging girls in particular to strive for an ideal which doesn’t exist in reality.

“All adults who care for the wellbeing of the younger generation need to try and make both boys and girls understand that each person has a beauty, talents and a personality that are unique to them.”

:: Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free, 24/7, on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline at any time on 0800 111, visit www.childline.org.uk or download the ‘For Me’ app.