#IResolveToGain

We are told at a young age that nobody is perfect.  The comment is usually shared when there is a simple mistake or perhaps an imperfection.  The purpose of the saying is to gently remind us that we are human and it is ok to make mistakes or have imperfections.  But, if nobody is perfect or even meat to be perfect, why are there so many advertisements that try to convince us to buy products to get rid of these imperfections – imperfections that make us unique?  I had originally thought it was to make us feel more confident and lessen the burden of our insecurities. I assumed they were only trying to help us become our best. The article, #IResolveToGainRatherThanLose, points out that instead of marketing the product with the goal of truly benefiting the consumer, they are targeting their insecurity for no purpose other than profit.

This article was aimed towards all of the people who, like me, have insecurities about their appearance and buy weight loss products and services from companies who could care less about our actual goals.  The article points out that if the weight loss plans the companies advertise actually worked, why would they still need to Photoshop their models.  Photoshop or air-brushing and the false appearance portrays has been the subject of debate for some time, but recently some companies have decided to terminate the use of it, trying to prove the same message as #IResolveToGain.   It is telling us that we have bigger problems to handle. We should not be as concerned about body image when more important issues such as domestic violence are still highly prevalent.  #IResolveToGain was created to inspire women to love their body and any imperfections they think they might have and to focus on more important issues facing women.  It was also meant to send a message to the diet and fashion industry that women are no longer going to be fooled by their airbrush tactics. 

I’m am new to Twitter, so I don’t follow hashtags or really understand what is meant by trending on Twitter.  However, I think using this medium for this topic is particularly useful.  The message in this hashtag is particularly useful for younger women and girls.  By using a popular social media, she was probably able to deliver her message to a more appropriate audience versus writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper.  I don’t  know many women my age who read the newspaper.  Additionally, using this medium allows others to add comments and thoughts, which promotes a dialogue on the subject.  Dialogue can lead to meaningful action.  These new phrases, joined by a number sign, can accomplish far more than helping someone gain a few followers. They can be used to rapidly create awareness on a subject and that is exactly what this hashtag accomplished.