Despite the majority of women (86%) believing that we are taking cosmetic procedures too far, one in five still move forward with often invasive treatments.
Clinical psychologist, Dr Zac Elizabeth Buchanan said in a statement that women continue to be objectified and this, in part, is what’s causing the craze.
“It starts from an early age, from being praised for being a ‘pretty girl’, to being repeatedly told by the media that in order to be successful, admired, or be treated with value, you must look ‘perfect.’”
Melbourne based Dr Buchanan works with adults and teenagers dealing with internal and external struggles, including anxiety and low self esteem.
The results from the survey also found that 70% of women admit that the pressure comes from their own high expectations while 30% suggested that this pressure is driven by social media.
Of course, our “own expectations” are fundamentally shaped by external forces; of which social media is now a large component. Each year, Australians spend an estimated $1 billion on procedures, $350 million on wrinkle reduction procedures like Botox alone.
While half of women admit they want to make the healthier switch to natural beauty, a quarter do not believe it will be as effective and are turning to other alternatives.
“Embracing one’s beauty should not come at the cost of your self-worth, women should be sure they are doing it to nourish and care for themselves,” says Dr Buchanan.
Former Olympic Basketball Player, Lauren Jackson, is an Ambassador for Andalou Naturals, and says she was not immune to the pressure to conform to high beauty standards.
“When I look at myself in the mirror, I see myself ageing and I’ve thought about trying to fix things about my skin,” she said in a statement.
“Especially being a high-profile athlete, I really felt the pressure to go to extreme lengths to achieve the perfect skin,” Lauren says.
The 38-year old and WNBL winner says she suffered body-image issues that resulted in anxiety, despite being a role model as a passionate campaigner for women’s sport.