Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls

“Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls”
Scholars Name
Institution of Study
Course: Unit Name and Code
Instructor
Date of Submission
The impact that transitioning into adolescence had on Cayenne’s personality, behavior, and relationships was significant. As a young girl, Cayenne was bright, confident, outgoing, and had a strong sense of self. However, as she entered her teenage years, she began to struggle with a sense of self-worth and self-esteem due to societal and cultural influences that placed significant pressure on her to conform to specific standards of behavior and appearance. This pressure led to her feeling inadequate and self-conscious, and as a result, she became increasingly isolated and withdrawn, and her relationships with her family and friends changed dramatically (Pipher, 2008). Her behavior became increasingly erratic, and she developed a pattern of self-destructive behavior, such as engaging in risky behaviors and neglecting her hygiene and health.
(a) The influences in Cayenne’s life that resulted in these changes were primarily societal and cultural. Cayenne encounters societal messages emphasizing physical beauty and perfection, which makes her feel inadequate and self-conscious. Additionally, cultural expectations of girls and women placed tremendous pressure on Cayenne to conform to specific standards of behavior and appearance. These societal and cultural influences created an environment that was not conducive to Cayenne’s healthy development(Pipher, 2008). These messages and expectations were reinforced by the media, social media, and peers, making it difficult for Cayenne to escape them and leading to her internalization of these negative messages.
(b) If Cayenne was a teenager today, other factors that might need to be in consideration in terms of their impact on her development include social media and the pressure to present a curated and perfect image to the world. Additionally, the prevalence of cyberbullying and online harassment may significantly impact her self-esteem and well-being(Pipher, 2008). Furthermore, the pressure of academic achievement and the expectation to excel in multiple areas of life, such as school, sports, and extracurricular activities, can also contribute to the difficulties faced by teenage girls today.
It is essential to address the societal and cultural influences contributing to these difficulties to help prevent the problems many teenage girls face. This idea is implementable by promoting positive body image and s and encouraging girls to develop a sense of self-worth not based on external validation. Additionall...