Analysis Of The Tradle-To-Grave Stereotypes

The cradle-to-grave phenomenon is a simple concept to understand. From birth, we intentionally or unintentionally accept ideals and societal norms that we carry with us up into adulthood. One phenomenon of this cradle-to-grave concept is the discrimination and fear of weight. Weight to some of us is just a number on a scale, but to a majority of the population that number on the scale is enough to drive people into a panic. This panic can start from a very young age and in today’s culture it is very easy to see where it stems from. Specifically, we will examine why what we see, what we eat, what we decide to buy and what we do are all influenced by this panic. Significantly, America’s malls are a leading example for this cradle to grave phenomenon

This is where the cradle to grave phenomenon begins at a young age and is based off what we see. Through the eyes of a young child, walking through this mall we can see the vast array of advertisements of skinny, prominently white females in front of major clothing stores such as Hollister and H&M. The strong existence of ads that display one type of race and body being presented to real children who pass by is very substantial. It could very well explain why, “Girls young as five fear gaining weight” according to Marilyn Wayn in her forward, Fat Studies: An Invitation to Revolution (19). These images children see can be ingrained into their heads that these are the ideals society want because these are the ideals we choose to showcase. As humans, we naturally want to feel accepted, as a child the feeling of acceptance can be placed purely on physical attributes because they do not yet understand the uniqueness of their own personalities. Without the knowledge to truly understand that these ideals are not attainable, they grow up and these feelings carry on with them to their teenage

This is where the cradle- to-grave spectacle of weight fear and discrimination discreetly continues. As Marilyn Wayn points out in her dissertation, Fat Studies: An Invitation to Revolution, “employers frequently turn down promising fat applicants for not fitting the corporate image” (20). Walking inside stores such as Hollister and Forever 21 we can see that this statement reigns true. Almost every single employee at these establishments would be considered skinny, young, and fashionable and somewhat match the ads on the exterior of these stores. Consequently, if we do not match up to these ideals our credentials are placed lower than our physical appearances and weight. This future discrimination that many of us may face can heighten the fear of weight and constricts what we decide to do to ourselves to maintain these standards as a child, as a teenager, and as an