The Negative Effects of Fashion On Young Minds (2024)

Another name that can be used to describe fashion is glamour. People who work in the fashion industry always seem to have their lives together. We are not the only ones who admire them for their perfect lives, but our children do too. And this ultimately affects how they see and perceive their surroundings.

Having the most fashionable clothes in our wardrobes adds colour and energy in our rooms. Plus, it has been proven scientifically, that owning the latest cars, phones and wearing beautiful clothes and shoes lifts our mood and boosts our level of confidence and self-esteem.

Just like any other aspect of life, fashion is like a two-edged sword that can build or destroy the mind, especially in children and teenagers. The negative impact of fashion on young minds can be witnessed today on a massive scale.

Apart from the adverse mental effects, fashion has also contributed to global warming due to the number of chemicals, water and toxins emitted during manufacturing, processing, and transportation.

The negative mental side effects do not just affect the consumers but also the producers. So, what are some of these negative effects that fashion has on young minds? Keep reading!

1. Low self-esteem

According to essay help, low self-esteem arises when you start thinking that the people around you are better, smarter and more effective than you. The majority of teenagers around the world today have low self-esteem. And this has been contributed by the fashion industry.

In our world today, every teenager wants to update his or her wardrobe regularly with the most fashionable designs in the market. If you have a rich father or uncle, you’ll be fortunate to get whatever stylish clothes and shoes you desire.

Since this is not the case with most teenagers around the world, this leads to low self-esteem. For instance, in most classes, there are a few rich kids who are respected and admired by most of the students. When these rich kids go to school with the most fashionable clothes, shoes, and cars, other students are likely to think that they don’t fit with these children.

Some of them cannot voice their thoughts and opinions because they’ll be ignored or laughed at by others. When this happens, they start feeling angry, jealous and envious of other teenagers who can afford this lifestyle. And this ultimately leads to low self-esteem and confidence.

Children and teenagers with low self-esteem cannot excel and succeed in our competitive world. You cannot imagine a successful person with low self-esteem and confidence. You cannot imagine a successful person with poor communication skills.

It takes a lot of time and effort for children and teenagers to regain their confidence. While your child is growing and getting to understand how the world operates, let he or she know that fashion should not be a reflection of who you are as a person.

2. Extreme competition

The clothes, shoes, cars, and houses that are fashionable today will be obsolete tomorrow. The fashion industry is competitive today, like never before. Every producer is working extremely hard to be a step forward of his or her competition. And this affects not only them but also the consumers. The majority of people who spend most of their time-consuming fashion usually go broke and bankrupt most of the time. There is no way you’ll ever manage to compete with fashion. It will always change like the weather.

You are competing with your loved ones and friends regularly because fashion is a very unhealthy way to live. Competition leads to unhappiness, anger, jealousy, fear, doubt, and envy. Not to mention the stress and frustrations that you’ll undergo when you get broke or bankrupt.

3. Addiction and Guilt

Fashion is becoming a fast-paced, diverse and trendy industry every passing day. There are lots of amazing brands out there that make it easy for the majority of people to have fashion on their priority list without having to waste their hard-earned cash.

However, everything you see on the rack with discounted prices might also cost you psychologically. Since fashion and discount shops usually make the minds of buyers (mostly young people) stimulate dopamine, the majority of them are more likely to make shopping one of the ways to deal with and eliminate anxiety, depression, worry, and stress.

And this ends up becoming a vicious addiction cycle. Something that starts as great escape ends up becoming an obsession. And this ultimately leads to financial worries and guilt due to unnecessary spending.

4. Work pressure

The more you spend on fashion, the harder you’ll have to work to keep up with the trends. Today, most employees have at least two jobs that help them survive every month. Working hard is a good thing. However, it should be done in moderation.

Everyone needs ample time to relax, travel and see the marvels of the world. Your body and mind function at their best when you relax and take things easy from time to time. When you spend most of your leisure time visiting shops and stores, you’ll end up squandering your hard-earned money buying something that you don’t need.

After spending most of your money, you’ll have to work harder and longer to pay your bills and other essential expenses. You’ll never get the time to relax and watch the sunset, climb mountains or spend time with your loved ones.

Remember, on your deathbed; you’ll not wish you had spent more time working. Young people need to understand this as early as possible to avoid falling into this trap.

5. Poor body image

The majority of models in the fashion industry always look amazing. They are always smiling and have a perfect body. Body image is important for everyone, especially for young women. Looking at the skinny toned models walking the runway leads to unrealistic expectations in the minds of the majority of consumers.

When young people compare their bodies and way of life to the top models in the fashion industry, it always leads to feelings of inadequacy and pressure to conform to unrealistic expectations. With beauty goals on top of their list, most young women have succumbed to eating disorders and popping pills which leads to poor health in the long run.

When it comes to body image, there is always a price to pay. However, you don’t need to use shortcuts to achieve your beauty goals. All you have to do is eat well and stay active. Go for a walk, work out, meditate, journal and smile.

Remember, no one is better or smarter than you. They are just doing things differently. If you do the same things, you’ll get similar results. Also, don’t believe everything you see on TV. The majority of models will only show you what they want you to see. Some of them have horrible lives.

6. Mental Illness

The more you get into fashion, the harder it will be to get out. You have to do everything in moderation. When it becomes an obsession. It might kill you. In the US, suicide rates in the fashion industry are high. And they are affecting consumers too.

When you compare yourself with other people and start competing with them, you’ll end up spending most of your precious time buying things that you don’t need to impress people you don’t like. In the long run, you’ll start feeling guilty, angry, jealous and doubting yourself. And this ultimately leads to worry, fear, anxiety, and depression, to name a few. These are some of the most dangerous mental illnesses, especially for young people.

When young people get these mental illnesses, it’s easy to start thinking of committing suicide because there is no excitement or anything to look forward to in your life. Young people need to seek help when they start struggling mentally to avoid harming themselves. When you suppress your feelings, they’ll erupt one day like a volcano. And it will be challenging to reverse the effects.

7. Copying others

After watching the television for a while and identifying your role model, you’ll start copying him or her so that you can feel like him or her. There are positive and negative aspects of copying. Copying the positive characteristics you see online, such as working out, eating healthy foods, reading and work ethic will have a positive impact on your life.

However, it’s much easier to copy the negative aspects too than avoiding them. For instance, if your favourite model spends a lot of time and money in clubs and parties, you are likely to start doing the same thing. The fashion industry is all about copying what others are doing. And this can adversely affect your life.

The majority of young people tend to think that models and superstars have perfect lives when, in reality, they are struggling with problems like any other person. Everyone has issues to solve despite the money and status. The more productive you become, the more complex the problems become. Therefore, young people should avoid copying others blindly, especially in the fashion industry.

Conclusion

The fashion industry can be a great asset or liability in our lives. It all depends on we see and use it. You don’t have to spend loads of cash buying things to impress people. Remember, nobody cares. Just as you spend most of your time thinking about yourself, the same applies to the world around you.

Therefore, don’t get into the business of chasing butterflies. The fashion industry is changing all the time, like the weather. What was fashionable in the 80s can be fashionable tomorrow. Live a healthy balanced life. And most importantly, enjoy it with your loved ones.

About the author

Susan Saurel is a passionate digital marketer at personal statement writing service and best essay writing service who lives in Houston, Texas. She spends most of her free time travelling and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. As an experienced marketer, she is eager to share her personal and professional experiences with her readers. You can check a lot of her previous work at professional essay writers.

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