Just today on the
CBC, I heard a sociologist discuss her research on young girls' perceptions of plastic surgery. These girls are aged 7 to 13 and although not concerned about breasts, they are focused on facial "imperfections." What amazes this researcher is the amount of sophisticated knowledge the girls have.
What do you think of this? I wonder about the balance of concern young girls have when it comes to their minds and their bodies. When I see certain men and women, I often wonder how much time and money they spend on their appearance. I then wonder how rewarding their lives would be if they spent these resources on something that mattered more to them. (You know, those things many probably don't even know about.)
As far as the office woman is concerned, it doesn't sound like she's to blame for much of anything. It sounds like she's in an emotionally abusive relationship... and a severe one at that. A situation like that is hard to get out of. Victims of emotional abuse (especially severe and long term) have little or no sense of self. This is how her husband controls her. Depending on the severity of the situation, if she were to tell a mental health professional everything about her life, this woman would possibly be told to leave the relationship immediately and seek emergency support.