SOURCE: 원더걸스 출신 혜림, 아이돌 시절 겪은 외모 스트레스 솔직 고백 (부모의 첫 성교육)
The upcoming episode of EBS' 'Parents’ First Sex Education' titled "Am I only loved only if I'm pretty?" is scheduled to air on EBS on the 25th.
This episode focuses on how children are becoming concerned about their appearance at increasingly younger ages. It explores how distorted beauty standards, including terms such as 'stick skinny,' 'pro-ana,' 'meokto (NB: vomiting after eating)', and beauty filter apps, affect children's self-esteem and body perception. The show also discusses the parents' roles and how they can communicate with children so they can accept themselves as they are in a society where judging appearances has become normalized. Wonder Girls' ex-member Woo Hyerim will also join the episode to discuss the appearance evaluations and public scrutiny she faced during her time as an idol.
During the broadcast, elementary school students openly share their honest thoughts. Although they initially express themselves confidently through dance and acting, the atmosphere shifts once the discussion turns to appearance. The children bring out items reflecting their insecurities, including weight scales, makeup products, and height supplements, while talking about trying to achieve standards like 'skinnier body,' 'perfect face,' and 'taller height.' In repsonse, experns warn that appearance-related stress can lead to self-hatred and low self-esteem. They further explain that peer culture and media environments heavily influence the formation of children's beauty standards.
The cast members are shocked to discover that terms like 'stick skinny,' 'pro-ana,' 'meokto (NB: vomiting after eating)' are already casually used among elementary school students. An expert explains that repeated exposure to certain beauty standards through social media algorithms can create a distorted body image. In particular, they warn that excessive obsession with appearance can lead to anorexia, eating disorders, depression, and social withdrawal, stressing the importance of parents carefully observing and communicating with their children.
The episode also includes an experiment where beauty filters are applied to the cast members' faces. While enhancing one's appearance by using beauty filters has become common even among adults, experts explain that it can create an entirely different problem for children who are still developing emotionally and mentally. They note that growing accustomed to filtered appearances may cause children to feel disconnected from their real faces and, in severe cases, contribute to depression or body dysmorphic disorder.
Children also openly reveal their worries regarding appearance and self-esteem struggles. The cast members express surprise at how early appearance anxiety begins. One expert explains that when children ask, "Am I pretty?", it's often not just a simple confirmation regarding their looks, but rather deeper fears about self-worth, essentially asking, "Can I be loved as I am?" The expert adds that parents’ words and attitudes strongly influence their childs' body image, noting that praises centered on effort, growth, and achievement rather than physical appearance is especially important.
Through this episode, the show emphasizes that accepting 'yourself as you are' matters more than achieving a perfect appearance. Sharing the appearance evaluations and comparison culture she experienced as an idol, Woo Hyerim stated, "What matters more than appearance is the mindset of accepting yourself for who you are."
