Females in contemporary America are educated in the importance of education, character, civil responsibility, and many other relevant issues. The most resonant of these, however, is the informal education about physical image. From an early age, females learn from their families, friends, and favorite celebrities that a girl’s physical image is her gateway to life. I cannot begin to count the number of times that I personally have been told that in order to gain entry into the professional world, I must have perfectly highlighted hair, rounded nails, a flat stomach, and flawless skin. Sometimes I wish the people who said these things could see me when I roll out of bed in the morning. Females are unfairly and blatantly scrutinized in society more than men, but at the same time it is more acceptable to criticize young women for their physical faults. The mirror has become as essential as a pencil in the education of young females in modern society.
At Girls Incorporated, the students (ranging in ages from 5 to 18) are encouraged to be strong, smart, and bold. Nowhere in the organization’s mission statement does it claim to encourage young girls to be the prettiest and most well groomed they can be. In fact, quite the opposite is true- the volunteers and staff wear scrubby clothes and worn out tennis shoes with their hair tied loosely in a bun. Yet the girls are constantly reminded by the outside world that they are expected to grow into beautiful young adults. Alas, the large mirror in the restroom has become an ironic symbol for Girls Incorporated.
The behavior of young girls in different age groups varies vastly at Girls Incorporated. However, the one underlying idea is that the girls should attempt to look their best every day. Many carry mirrors in their backpacks and upon entering the restroom they immediately look in the mirror to check for microscopic flaws. It’s difficult not to identify with these actions, as I myself perform the same ritual; but analyzing this behavior gives one a deeper sense of the emotions associated with the mirror. Fieldworking has appropriately termed this perspective as “Insider/Outsider Stance (Fieldworking 2).” Acting as an insider to the culture has allowed me to gain permission to enter and observe the group, while acting as an outsider has allowed me to reflect on my experiences and analyze specific behaviors.
To older females, a mirror can sometimes be as ominous and foreboding as a scale, but for the younger girls of Girls Incorporated, the mirror is a gateway to the future. It promises fortune and success as long as the viewer is willing to sacrifice herself to society’s demands.
