The world as we see it today has dramatically changed.  From styles of fashion to how people see each other, the difference is evident. In the Victorian Era, elegant gowns complete with bloomers would have been considered perfectly normal, however, if one was to wear something like that today, it would be looked down upon and considered ‘weird’.

Young people in today’s world seemingly have it hard. There is so much pressure to fit in with one another and with the majority of people conforming to mainstream fashion, it leaves the people who dress alternatively feeling left out. For example, one girl could be wearing a chic and brightly coloured outfit, whilst another could be wearing nothing but black, with heavy eyeliner. Who do you think would be more popular in say, a school, where most girls dress like the former? I think the answer is clear.

What becomes of the girls and boys who decide to dress in a non conforming fashion? They could become the victims of bullying from the people who dress ‘normally’. With everyone at their heels to conform and act like they do, these alternative people can find life stressful and difficult.

People nowadays have forgotten the value of inner beauty. The media has caused us to become obsessed with how we look on the outside, and we judge people on this rather than on their personal qualities and values. Girls now feel the need to hide behind a mask of makeup rather than to show off their natural beauty and it would seem now that orange is the new “natural skin tone”.

Fitting in doesn’t just stop at fashion and makeup, it can go as far as body image where death can be caused from severe illnesses such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In the UK there has been a steep rise of people with eating disorders. So many people have suffered and the media are to blame, as it is constantly showing us pictures of skinny models and celebrities in magazines and television. Will this madness stop?

Human beings are always going to judge each other – it is really just in our nature. However, can we put a stop to just looking at people on the surface and try to see people for what they truly are?

I think if we really tried, we could.