Fatphobia and Whitewashing Through Social Media

Abstract

As a girl growing up in the 21st century, I have always had social media accessible to me. Due to the influence of trends through each social media platform and its influencers, I am very aware of how my appearance is perceived through Eurocentric beauty standards. A Eurocentric beauty standard refers to the ideas of favoring Western features such as long straight hair, large eyes, small noses, high cheekbones, having a fair skin tone, and being thin. I was ignorant of the lack of representation others experienced when scrolling through various social media sites.When this was finally brought to my attention, I realized that the lack of diversity in social media had excluded women who do not fit into the Eurocentric beauty standard.