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Social media has filters that say they will make you more beautiful. Advertisements sell you things to help you get the “perfect” body. Everywhere you turn, it seems like someone is telling you that your looks are not good enough.
Valerie Chiu is a student at St Mary’s Canossian College in Hong Kong. The 14-year-old noticed that some of her peers have a habit of wearing masks because they believe they look better this way.
The pupil said this behaviour was because of social media posts showing unrealistic images of beauty. Comparing themselves to models that seem “perfect” online can hurt teenagers’ confidence.
“It’s not just about facial appearance,” Valerie said.
“Some of my peers try to eat less or even skip their breakfast to lose weight and look skinnier – even though at school we have learned the importance of a balanced diet.”
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Harmful stereotypes
Stephanie Ng is the founder of Body Banter, a Hong Kong charity that teaches youth about having a positive view of their body. She has seen many students struggle with insecurities about their weight and body.
“Traditional Asian values, like the emphasis on being ‘glowy, slim and beautiful’, continue to shape societal beauty standards and can impact individuals’ self-perception,” said Ng, who has a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
She added that Hongkongers often hear that having a “perfect” body will lead to happiness and success.
“These messages often link certain appearance standards with desirable personality traits like self-discipline, confidence and determination,” Ng said.
She said that messages about eating too little could also be very harmful to young people. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to these pressures because dieting might seem like an easy way to fix their insecurities.
How teachers can step in
According to Ng, teachers need to be trained about how teens’ body image can affect their mental health.
“This would help them understand helpful and harmful messages and recognise warning signs ... of body image and mental distress among their students,” she said.
Ng highlighted the powerful impact that teachers could have on students.
“How they discuss food, body and exercise in the classroom can shape young people’s view on these topics,” Ng said. “In addition, trusted teachers are often the first people students turn to for help.”
Ansley Lee is an English teacher and counselling mistress at Kiangsu-Chekiang College. According to Lee, body image is a topic in the school curriculum, but when teachers discuss mental health, they usually focus more on internet use, relationships and pressure from school.
“But I think teachers can explore beyond the textbook and use it as a starting point for students to explore other related issues such as self-confidence,” Lee said.
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Educators are important for helping students have a positive body image, but Ng said schools should make sure teachers have enough support to do this.
“A key barrier to effective support [for students] is often teachers’ overwhelming responsibilities and lack of professional training in mental health,” she said.
Valerie believes body positivity is important for Hong Kong youth.
“Schools can play a vital role in teaching students positive values, including self-confidence, which can foster a healthier relationship with their bodies,” the student said.
She added that there could be a lot of problems if young people are too stressed about how they look.
“Teenagers who are too focused on their appearance may withdraw socially and become less open-minded,” she said.
“Body positivity can encourage students to be more caring, compassionate and courageous.”
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