not good enough, or just thinking you're not?

Why are you buying all of the 'in' things? Is it because your friends do? Or simply because they're advertised in magazines?

Well you'd be surprised that we're all brainwashed into everything we do in society. Don't believe me? Think about it... The shoes you have on now. What brand are they? What was your reason behind buying them? You're probably thinking ‘I'm not being brainwashed into buying certain branded products.’ But everyone is. Every day. This is because we have TOO much choice. You might say that it’s just what you like or prefer to products of other brands.

Hollister is a prime example of an American business which only employs 'good looking' people. Does this mean if we buy the products we'll be in this 'good looking' category? What even are the requirements, as such to be in this category? It's ludicrous! Even in interviews for a job at this company you're judged on your appearance, when all you're doing is selling clothes and accessories. Ask yourself this; are looks really necessary in this job role? If we're not being brainwashed into buying the ‘must have items’ which are seen as material possessions, then we are definitely being brainwashed on the perfect image of how we should present ourselves to others and our appearances. I know every time I go into Hollister there are tall, slim girls with long blonde hair, sporting the 'au naturale' look. I'm sure these people's egos were big enough before they were given a job at Hollister. Everyone else feels inferior to those people; this is why more and more young people see themselves as plain or not attractive enough. This resorts in them believing they NEED the material possessions which Hollister provides- to look good.

Is it brainwashing? ...Or are we in fact being programmed into thinking these things? We really are just little robots. Robots that are told what to do and programmed to have the ‘perfect personality’. Now you think about it you agree don’t you? Conformity. That’s what it is. Our lives have to be similar to those of others, or we feel like we don’t fit in! We’re programmed into thinking of the ‘perfect person’ and how they are portrayed in society!

One scandal that involves the company concerns a 22 year old woman who was offered a job because of her looks when she was in shopping. When she passed the interview she told the company that she had a disability; she only had one arm and wore a prosthetic one in place. The company accepted her disability and that she would wear her prosthetic arm covered up by a cardigan. It was soon unacceptable to have this woman working on the shop floor because of her disability. What is this going to do to someone, people should NOT be ashamed to buy something because it is worn by someone with a disability! Even more important than that the company should not have discriminated against and humiliated this woman because of her disability! Should this really happen; discrimination against someone because of their disability? You wouldn’t discriminate someone because of their race, so why against someone who was born with a disability. Riam Dean said “I was bullied out of my job, it was the lowest point I had ever been in my life.” She was seen as breaking the ‘look policy.’

 

I was recently telling my friend that I was disgusted in this Hollister and Abercrombie policy and discrimination. She then went on to tell me about her recent experience in Abercrombie and Fitch. “I was just minding my own business in the busy shop in London’s city centre when a man passed me on the stairs and stopped a tall, blonde young woman. This man then asked this woman if she had a job, to which she replied ‘no.’ He then offered her a job within seconds! I really cannot believe that people are so shallow and think that looks have to be everything, especially for a clothes shop!”

‘The look’ policy is an actual rule for Abercrombie and Fitch. They have said females are told to wear minimal makeup only in natural tones, and little to no jewellery is allowed while ‘guys’ may wear no jewellery at all. Girls are only allowed to wear a pair of earrings; rings, bracelets and necklaces are not allowed. Is this dress code really necessary to get people to buy their products? Yes, we all aspire to look like th
ese people, but it causes those of us, who believe we are not ‘good enough’, to feel worse having these 'superiors' working in shops we wish to buy products from. Feeling inferior to these people does nothing for everyone else’s self esteem.

All of this contributes to the changes that are happening in society. Many people are getting plastic surgery to change their appearance to please others. We really don’t need this! We are who we are; we shouldn't have to change for anyone, should we? If someone wants another person to change their appearance then that's because they have very high views of what people should be and look like. When we say 'nobody's perfect' this is true. Everyone is their own person. We have been brainwashed into thinking that there is the 'perfect' appearance and personality. Some people really won't stop until they reach this. Just think of the huge number of people who now resort to having plastic surgery, all because they think they don't look good enough!

But why can’t ‘normal’ be perfect? Expectations of how everyone should be are far too high. We have all just conformed to the social norm of the perfect appearance. If you ask anyone I’m sure they’d say tall, blonde and natural beauty. Everyone seeks have this so called perfect appearance, but surely ‘normal’ is better than being someone you aren’t!

So just let yourself know, that YES you are good enough, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise!