Society as a young adult

Graphic by Kylee Weber

We have grown up in a generation with a standard that we must meet to be considered socially acceptable. These standards stem from magazine covers, models, social media platforms and society. However, what those expectations do not tell you is that it is impossible to look and feel the way they do on screen. These social standards have led to several young adults changing their physical appearance just to “fit in.” 

We have passed judgment time after time when seeing someone on campus, in a store or on social media. We all participate in some form of judgment, whether it is comparing ourselves to others, thinking we are better than others, or saying we wish we could be more like others. 

There are women putting makeup all over their face so they can look like the supermodel on Instagram.

There are men who continue to work out every day to get muscles like someone they saw in a movie. 

There are young adults starving themselves to become thin and be in an “acceptable” weight range. 

There are people out there who permanently change or damage their body so they can become attractive. 

All because they want to fit in. 

Society today has caused us to believe that this is okay, that we must look, eat and feel a specific way. We strive to fit into these tiny categories so we can fall in line with a stereotype we want to be. If someone is not a part of a specific group they become overwhelmed with the need to be in that group. This causes drastic changes in people's life. 

These stereotypes do not define who we are, what we do or how we look. The ONLY thing that can define who we are is us. We can choose to stay out of the stereotypes and accept our body as it is. We can feel comfortable in our own skin and not pass judgment onto others. Before you look and compare yourself to someone you are standing next to, look and compare yourself to someone you used to be. Remember a time when stereotypes did not define who you were -- this can be as a child, in your house, with your friends or even playing your sport. 

Stereotypes do not define us, social judgment does not define us and society CAN NOT define us.