But, I want it now
Gen Y is the generation that grew up in an age of rapid technological advancement. Those born between 1980 and 2000 have seen slow, screeching dial-up modems replaced by speedy broadband connections, and the rise of multipurpose devices where one can call, text, watch videos, read books, and surf the web instantly. Access to such instantaneous technologies and products is fantastic; rather than having to hunt through library shelves, we can simply Google stuff, and no need to wait for the new season of ‘The Walking Dead’ to be released in Australia, just stream it online. Life is sweet! Unfortunately, like many things that seem too good to be true, there are pitfalls to Gen Y having always been exposed to technologies that offer instant gratification. A prime example being the health-related implications of entitlement for our younger generations, but we’ll get to that a bit later. To put it simply, Gen Y has become known as the self-entitled generation; we want (and believe we deserve) everything right now without having to put in much effort, and God forbid if there is any type of delay — personally, I know the immense frustration when my favourite show stops to buffer at the most climactic part of the episode.
I have come to peace with the fact that (a) I am part of a self-entitled generation, and (b) that Gen Y will most likely continue to be this way since newer technologies are designed to cater for our need for instant gratification. However, there are greater impacts that this focus on instant gratification is having on Gen Y. One sphere in particular where this focus has a significant, potentially damaging, effect is body image.
The National Survey of Young Australians states that body image has been one of the top three personal concerns of young people since 2012. This concern is particularly prevalent among young women, with the most recent survey identifying that 37.4% of females were ‘extremely concerned’ with body image. It should not be a surprise that many young women are incredibly insecure when it comes to their body image. The media, of which is an ever present part of young women’s lives, sends them salient messages every day about what a woman should look like and what types of images society values — and more often than not, these messages convey a less than realistic representation of the ‘ideal woman’.
Of course this link between unrealistic body expectations and popular culture is not a new discovery. For years studies have shown that women are bombarded with images that feature the ‘ideal body’, causing them to self-assess. It is then common practice for these images to act as a point of comparison for women to improve their own bodies. If Kylie Jenner, with her flawlessly bronzed skin and perfectly rounded booty, are on the front of a magazine that’s what is attractive and that’s what women have to work towards. As one example, Australian Comedian Celeste Barber brilliantly highlights the ridiculously unrealistic nature of celebrity Instagram snaps by creating her own parody posts — check her out; if not to see the perfect juxtaposition of idealism and reality, then just for a giggle.
It is only natural that a portion of young women would feel pressured to conform to what popular opinion says is ‘hot’ or ‘not’, however it is the way in which they choose to get there that is troubling. Typical for Gen Y-ers, some women of the younger generation aren’t too keen on delayed gratification. I mean, rather than getting 15 minutes of sun a day for a couple of weeks to build up a Gigi-like tan, I pay a mother of two $25 to spray me down with a magical liquid that smells awful, but leaves me feeling like Beyoncé.
Notably, beauty hacks like spray tans (which wash away after a week or so) are relatively harmless health wise…it’s the weight loss short cuts that are a concern. Many young women who have either tried to lose weight the right way and didn’t persevere, or who think the right way is just the long way and ain’t nobody got time for that, are choosing easier and seemingly quicker alternatives that can have serious consequences. It also doesn’t help that there is constant persuasive campaigning from celebrities and Instafamous product promoters aimed at enticing young women to embark on a ‘health journey’ that is the opposite of healthy. One type of ‘health’ product that claims to aid weight loss without restricting calorie intake or altering your exercise routine is detox tea. When these products hit the market those attempting to tone up were thrilled — drinking tea burns kilos, fantastic!
It didn’t take long however for this ‘easy weight loss’ bubble to burst after having holes poked in it by legit health professionals. Basically it was pointed out that the key ingredient in most marketed detox teas is senna, a herb that when consumed by humans has a strong laxative effect, and that’s why so many teatoxers were heading to the bathroom…a lot. Therefore, technically this glamourous, celebrity-promoted product was actually helping consumers lose weight, however they were only dropping pounds as a result of bouts of diarrhoea. If that wasn’t bad enough, continued long-term use of the tea has been found to have serious effects on future bowel function, making users’ bowels ‘lazy’ and reliant on stimulants. So although you finally look bangin’ in that black bodycon dress, you’ll be too busy in the bathroom for anyone to see you in it, oh and you will no longer be able to ‘go’ without taking stimulants.
To be fair, a large proportion of young women who wish to attain the ‘perfect bod’, or just a ‘little bit better bod’, do go about it the right way. They opt for the fresh green stuff rather than the deep-fried, sugary, outrageously delicious stuff, and exercise on a regular basis. Those who follow this path are more likely to develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise, and see long-lasting results — the positive kind of results, not the deterioration of organ function kind that you see with the aforementioned teas…
It is both a blessing and a curse that technological advancement has led to constant convenience. I want to stress that younger generations, who have always had this convenience available to them, need to be aware that certain people and brands will take advantage of a consumer’s desire for instant gratification. As for those who are looking to slim down, do it the healthy way and don’t automatically look for the quick fix. Sure, the traditional way is harder, but it won’t leave you looking at the back of a bathroom door 5 times a day and your bowel will thank you.
