VANITY VS. NORMALITY

The world is constantly changing day to day, yet America remains one of the highest in the world for constant revolutions technologically, medically, and so on. Though the majority of countries is the world worry more about feeding each individual at least once a day to avoid starvation, America seems to have slightly different priorities, like nose jobs, breast implants, tummy tucks, lip injections, or liposuction. People in the United States have begun getting so many different surgeries that they almost act as though they are ordering lunch on the McDonalds take-out menu.  Is this behavior completely normal, or have Americans gone way too far with this one?  I will leave that question up to you, but here is something that may be new to you… it’s called: “Body Dysmorphic Disorder” (BDD).  This medically studied disorder may have something to do with America’s obsession over “Barbie doll” perfectionism.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is defined as a psychological disorder that is characterized by serious distress and preoccupation with some aspect of one’s appearance (while others may comment on how great they look). The worrying leads to compulsive behaviors and rituals that usually lead to surgical procedures in attempt to reconstruct their low self esteem.

You wouldn’t think that many of your fellow classmates go around talking about the different plastic surgeries they “need”, but the topic is extremely popular in California State, where the plastic surgery percentage has astronomical significance. My fellow high school classmate moved out to California to attend UCLA, and she claimed, “everyone at my school talks about plastic surgery loosely, but breast implants are among the most popular. Though everyone talks about it, only the rich can afford that!”(Candice Alexander, UCLA).

How about Philadelphia University? What do our students think concerning this controversial issue?  I decided to get some feedback from several students.  One student gave their opinion, claiming, “…plastic surgery rocks! I plan on doing it the moment I graduate.” (Sarah Roberts)  Another student on campus strongly disagrees. She said, “…no way, I cringe at the thought of a knife coming at my face!” (Lyn Vu) Personally, if I had to choose a side, it is more likely that I would agree with Lyn.  Erin Weisman, a freshman fashion major, claimed that she would do it but she also said, “Who can afford that? If I had the money, I would definitely try it.  However, I do feel that it may be extremely addictive.”

So has America gone too far? In a world where individuals feel constant pressure from the media, magazines, and movies on the definition of “perfect”, maybe it is a completely normal reaction to the pressure.  We can either choose to let this subject remain completely normal, or we can be the next generation to distinguish vanity vs. priority.  In many cases, plastic surgery is used wisely, but unfortunately, most surgeries are not necessary. Psychiatrist Katharine Phillips from Brown University recently wrote the book “The Broken Mirror” that claims more than 5 million Americans suffer BDD.  This is an interesting statistic that all Americans should be aware of.

In conclusion, plastic surgery can definitely be over-used, abused, and addictive. If you know a close friend who constantly talks about their body negatively, try to help them out by finding different ways to boost their self-confidence.

The only advice I have is to live life as an individual with an appearance so distinct and special that no one else in the entire world could possibly look and act the same. As quoted by Paris Hilton, “Live every day as if it were your birthday.”  But don’t spend your birthday spending money on a nose job unless you see it as an absolute necessity.