Media Images That Detrimentally Affect Many Girls' Self-esteem

Floor Speech

* Ms. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that many girls struggle with well into adulthood: media images that detrimentally affect their self-esteem.

* We all know how important it is to help raise our young women to become able, self-confident people, for their own sake and for the benefit of our society.

* We have about 30 million girls under the age of 20 living in the United States. Thirty million wonderful and beautiful people, full of creativity, energy and dreams. Yet these girls face a struggle with unrealistic beauty and body image standards.

* Findings from a recent survey conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute show that 90 percent of girls feel pressure from the media to have an ideal body type. Ninety percent. As a result, their self-esteem, their body image, and their psychological and physical health are damaged when they do not measure up to these unrealistic beauty standards.

* We must elevate girls' voices and concerns. Our daughters and granddaughters need to see more girl-positive media, more natural and real female role models instead of touched-up, airbrushed models.

* The Girl Scouts of America on February 10, 2010--the eve of fashion week--hosted an event in New York City promoting messages that feature girls and women who have healthy, diverse body images and participate in respectful and healthy relationships. I commend the Girl Scouts for the important work they do in creating a healthy environment for young girls and women.

* Our support on this issue will help support girls' physical, emotional, and social health. Let us join the Girl Scouts in empowering girls to live healthy lives and become tomorrow's leaders with courage, confidence, and character.

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