National Context
In the United States, employers perception of beauty affects American women’s job prospects and self-esteem. For example, “57 percent of hiring managers told Newsweek that qualified but unattractive candidates are likely to have a harder time landing a job, while more than half advised spending as much time and money on ‘making sure they look attractive’ as on perfecting a résumé (Bennett, 2010). When it comes to women, apparently, flaunting our assets works: “61 percent of managers (the majority of them men) said it would be an advantage for a woman to wear clothing showing off her figure at work (Bennett, 2010). Although women in the United States have higher rates of high graduation than their male peers, and higher college graduation rates, they still suffer from self-esteem issues because of American culture’s obession with beauty. The media in particular is to blame for these increasing problems. For instance, in a recent survey “a growing number of girls and young women say they are unhappy with the way they look and more 16- to 18-year-olds feel less positive about life general” (Meikie, 2013). Many girls in this survey also said that when they see pictures of celebrities being “shamed,” it made them feel ashamed as well (Meikie, 2013). Celebrities are the most prominent media figures and always in the limelight. Instead of making positive body images for young girls, many celebrities are doing the opposite. Our society considers celebrities as role models; therefore, girls try to emulate these women with unhealthy body images.