A College Girl’s POV

For generations, there has been an ingrained, often unspoken standard of femininity force-fed to girls. This standard is a collection of expectations society has made for women: how they should look, behave, dress, and who they should be. In college, it is very easy to lose yourself within a sea of young adults attempting to become the next, better version of themselves. Specifically, women in college encounter immense pressure surrounding the feminine standard. Realistically, “Perfection” is the unrealistic goal for most, if not all, women in college. They strive for skinny; they aim for popularity, they seek a balance between messy drunk and straight A’s. 

On nights out, countless girls have a similar mindset. Don't eat, you'll bloat. Don’t bloat, you'll look fat. You can’t wear that shirt, your stomach will peak through. Everyone will think you are bigger. You'll be the fat girl at the party. Many girls restrict themselves before a night out in college. Don't eat; you'll look thinner, drunker, prettier, better.

This mentality was unanimous when speaking to female students at Syracuse University. Every individual commented on their attempts to attain the unattainable as a woman and admitted to toxic thoughts before a night out. There is a universal struggle to conform, shaping how we perceive ourselves. An issue that frequently surfaces: A woman's self-esteem revolves around an obsession with body image and weight -or rather- losing it. ​​SU Junior, Mia Rose said, “I have thought time and time again before going out that I needed to be thinner. I never used to feel guilty for eating, but when I got to college, people started to comment on how much I ate, and I felt wrong. As a woman, especially a WOC, I am not respected or seen when I'm not “attractive,” and a big part of attractiveness in our culture is body type.”

Undoubtedly, there is a strong social correlation between "skinny" and "pretty," a concept solidified by people's behavior. Junior Annette Gonzalez shared, “I observe many girls voicing whether or not they want to go out because they don’t feel skinny or are bloated. These girls unknowingly show shame around eating habits when food is what gives our body fuel to go out and dance.”  Many girls fail to realize that having fun in college is not solely about partying but about the energy that drives the party. Without fuel, that energy is obsolete.

Zayian Khandkar, Junior, admitted to dealing with food shame. “I don’t feel great about my body, especially before going out. On those nights, I either don’t eat or try to eat early on so I don’t feel bloated. I hate to think like this because I know I shouldn't, but I want to feel pretty, feel like a girl.” said Khandkar. The fact is that a woman's distaste for her body, especially in her emerging adulthood, is an epidemic. Through the praise of smaller bodies, our culture has proven that anything different is less “girl.” That a bigger body is less valuable in a world obsessed with weight. 

“I know a lot of girls go through the same thing, but it’s sad that this is what it has come to and that everyone feels they have to fit into this “perfect” mold created by beauty standards,” said Khandkar. Factors such as Media, Advertising, the Fashion Industry, and Celebrity Culture have contributed to the idea of the “ ideal body.” Smaller women are plastered on billboards, runways, your favorite TV shows, and clothing sites. These women are recognized public figures. These women are recognized figures. Every college student wants to be noticed, and unfortunately, girls have been convinced that being skinny gets you seen. 

Comparison is the thief of joy. Women compare themselves to other women, pinpointing the parts of their bodies they wish they could substitute. “I see it in ways people compliment me. When I compliment someone, they usually try to rebuke me by saying something like “No, but your…”, often acknowledging my body.” Gonzalez said. “ It makes me sad because I want women to know that just because someone else is beautiful doesn’t mean they aren’t.” 

As Khandkar said, “It’s sad that this is what it has come to,” yet there is hope. If enough women share their experiences, the stigma surrounding toxicity in the beauty community can be dismantled. By prioritizing acceptance and uplifting one another, women can redefine their perspective on value.