Exercise5. Read about it

Are today’s teenagers victims of fashion?

A survey among the 1,300 pupils at Caldicot Comprehensive School, near Newport, Wales shows that teenage girls and boys are deeply affected by the images presented by the fashion industry in magazines.

When we asked whether super slim fashion models influence anorexia – the eating disorder in which people go without food – 100 per cent of our sample replied “Yes”.

It’s not just our schoolmates who hold these views. We interviewed psychologist Dr Glenn Waller of London’s Royal Holloway College, an expert on the influence of fashion on adolescents. He told us that fashion photographs in magazines make a huge impact on young people’s self-image, particularly females aged 13-19. “Young people are guided by media standards while they are looking around for an identity,” he said. “Magazines provide ideas and these can affect vulnerable people.”

“If women look at supermodels who are beanpoles, they may imagine that they themselves are fatter than they really are. If the media used a wider range of female shapes it would be better.”

Fortunately, many Caldicot students are not victims of the image-makers. Here’s what some of them said:

“If you’re constantly dieting, you can’t enjoy life.”

“Fashion is something kids can control. It is a path many teenagers take to break free and have fun.”

“I find nothing attractive about six-foot models, who are two stone underweight; they just look ill.”

“Friends shouldn’t write you off for wearing unfashionable clothes; if they do, they aren’t very good friends.”

The Daily Telegraph/ Caldicot Censored

Vocabulary:

Affected – influenced

Sample– the people who were interviewed

Go without food – don’t eat

Our schoolmates – other pupils at our school

Make a huge impact– have a big effect

Self-image – the opinion people have of their own looks

Are guided by – follow

Media standards– what they see in magazines/newspapers and on TV

Looking around for an identity – trying to decide what sort of style to have

Vulnerable– sensitive

Beanpole – very thin

Range– variety

Path – road

Six-foot – 1 metre 83

Two stones– about 13 kilos

Write you off– decide you are a failure

Exercise6. Tick (√) the six opinions which are expressed in the article. Find the sentences in the story where they are expressed.

a. True friends don’t expect you to be fashionable.

b. You can’t blame the fashion business for anorexia.

c. Clothes look better on thinner people.

d. Dieting takes the fun out of life.

e. Fashion allows teenagers to feel free and have fun.

f. Fashion models today are getting larger.

g. Images of very thin models may make ordinary women feel fat.

h. Underweight models are unattractive.

i. Pop groups influence teenagers’ ideas about fashion.

j. The media should show different sizes and shapes.

Exercise7. Which of these factors are most important when you choose your clothes? Number them from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important)

Do a survey to find out the top three factors in the class.

Сomfort

What your friends are wearing

Color

Cost

What’s available in the shops

Material

Originality

If the clothes suit you

What pop/TV stars are wearing

Fashion magazines

FASHION