We live in a world where women are constantly under scrutiny for their appearance. They are continuously bombarded by images on social media that sexualize women and attempt to define what we should perceive as beauty. Companies target audiences with advertisements featuring models that depict an unattainable body type. In reality, many of the models we idolize in magazines are nothing more than the work of tremendous editing skills. From a young age, women are presented with the absurd notion that in order to appear desirable they must abide by a certain body type. It is important to remember that real beauty lies not in superficial appearances but in our unique features and personalities. As a whole, we must avoid this impossible quest for flawlessness and instead embrace the beauty of our imperfections.

Here’s what some Cavaliers had to say on the subject:

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Society today has created the idea of a perfect body through fat and skinny shaming. If you’re not skinny then your’re too fat and if you’re not fat then you’re too skinny. When companies use skinny models, girls look up to them and try to obtain a body that is in fact unrealistic. People need to see that the definition of beauty varies and it shouldn’t be based off a picture of a Victoria’s Secret model.

— senior Angelika Menendez

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There’s obviously social pressure to have the perfect body; people get judged left and right which shouldn’t be the case. I think that everyone should make an effort to be healthy and active but shouldn’t stress about having the perfect model body.

— freshman Cecilia Rodriguez

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I don’t think that any girl should have to feel the social pressure of having a perfect body; I believe that everyone is unique and that we shouldn’t be judged on how we look but rather what’s on the inside

— freshman Alfredo Wolferman

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Sometimes, having the perfect body is the only thing girls care about. They feel as if that’s all people base and judge you on, but it’s not. Girls don’t have to be ‘dumb’ and thin just to attract people. We don’t have to be pressured to wear revealing clothes just to feel better about ourselves.

— sophomore Presley Gonzalez

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I think that there is definitely social pressure for girls, especially young ones, to maintain a ‘perfect body’; when in reality, everyone is perfect the way they are.

— freshman Dylan Carol

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I believe that many girls, young and older, feel the pressure to have that bikini perfect body. I know that sometimes I have doubts about my own body and feel the urge to eat healthier, start exercising more, and change my lifestyle completely. But everyone should try to do whatever they think is comfortable for themselves so they feel positive in their own body.

— freshman Eliza Beltran

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I think that the idea of keeping a good looking body is a personal desire that women have because they think they need to appear attractive in order to impress others.

— freshman Jack Band

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I definitely feel the social pressure, there is no way you can deny it. Every ad that has a woman in a bathing suit is stick thin and that gets to your head. I’ve felt uncomfortable going to the beach with friends or even to the pool and it’s ridiculous. I hate it when I let it get to me, but it’s real and all around.

— freshman Gabriela Rivas

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I definitely feel there is a social pressure, mainly on younger females, but I believe that our society affects their self-perception. I believe that conforming to already set standards is something our generation should break away from.

— freshman Sutton Payne

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I definitely think that girls are pressured to portray themselves in a certain way, especially in bathing suits. There is this idea of a ‘perfect body’ that girls constantly try to achieve, yet the term itself is completely subjective. Girls are pressured to wear things that show off their bodies in order to get attention from guys since all guys seem to base a girl on is her appearance. Thus, it feels that in order to receive attention we have to expose ourselves.

— senior Eleonor Bauwens