Trigger warnings: Mentions of eating disorders, drug abuse and death
Narrow, unrealistic and often downright harmful, present-day beauty standards are now hitting new lows. The re-emergence of the ‘heroin chic’ trend stands as proof of this statement.
What is ‘heroin chic’?
Heroin chic is a 90’s trend characterized by a waifish appearance - pale skin, dark circles, stringy hair and above all, a painfully emaciated figure - all traits associated with the abuse of heroin or other drugs.
This ‘aesthetic’ was popularized by models such as Kate Moss, who infamously commented: “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”
How did this trend affect society?
When this trend first emerged, many young women fell prey to the acquisition of this ‘perfect’ figure. The prevalence of this toxic standard led to a sharp increase in the number of eating disorders observed in women.
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate out of all mental disorders, and sadly, one in five individuals with anorexia who die, take their own life. Studies showed that teens aged between 15 to 19 were the group most affected by this trend from 2000 to 2009, with many developing this disorder.
This unhealthy trend was widely criticized. Eventually, the rise of body positivity led to a decline in its popularity.
Current scenario
Social media has slowly but surely integrated itself into our daily lives. As its influence grows, many young and impressionable minds are exposed to harmful media. It is incredibly easy to edit images online to propagate a false impression of a ‘healthy body’
With images of ideal beauty bombarding us daily, it is easy to forget that beauty standards are arbitrary and vary greatly both from one culture to another and over time.
As influencers such as the Kardashians reclaim the ‘thin is in’ agenda, we must ensure that such trends are stopped in their tracks. As former President Bill Clinton, proclaimed, “Glorifying death is not good for any society. The glorification of heroin is not creative, it's destructive; it's not beautiful, it is ugly. And this is not about art, it's about life and death.”
As society evolves in all spheres of life, it is unacceptable for such beauty standards to be allowed to make a comeback. We must learn to be gentle with ourselves, and inspire each other, as a generation, to appreciate our bodies for the marvels they are.
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