1. Give an outline of the various views on plastic surgery for teenagers, which are presented in text 1 and 2. Text 1. Plastic surgery for teens – Valerie Ulene Valerie Ulene is saying that she believes that altering the way you look before you’re even done developing seems ridiculous. Although she admits, that when she were a teen, she sometimes fantasized about getting her nose ‘done’. She also says that facing the tremendous pressure to look attractive and beautiful can convince the teens that plastic surgery would be a good idea.
Plastic surgery improving teens self-esteem is also briefly discussed in the text. Many plastic surgeons claim that cosmetic procedures are not just improving the teens appearances, but also their self-esteem. Although there is really no data to suggest that it improves their overall body image or self-esteem at all. If the teenagers have problems in their life, the problems will not necessarily just go away after a plastic operation. Valerie Ulene does also point out the parents, that in the end are left with the choice of either letting their children get the procedures done, or not.
She has a daughter herself and do recognize how difficult life as a teen can be, although she would not allow her daughter to have a cosmic surgery done as long as she is a teen. Dr. John Canedy, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says about teens being mature: “teens need to be mature enough to understand what the surgery can and cannot do for them. ” Text 2. Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery – Camille Sweeney In this text we get introduced to 18 year old Kristen who as a graduation gift received a breast implant surgery from her parents.
Kristen says that before her breast job, she did not feel normal looking. Her thoughts were not abnormal though. She was raised in a culture of celebrity obsession, makeover TV shows and her mom and elder sister have both got breast implants. But to give an operation as a gift for a young child, isn’t that a bit extreme? Critics say that because surgery is becoming more common, parents are more likely to go with it. Jean Kilbourne is of the opinion that the teens have to be aware of the Medias cheating with photo shopping.
The men and women in the magazines are not even real, and the truth is no one can compete with these manipulated persons. But many teens try as hard as they possibly can to compete with something that improbable, and that puts a great strain on the poor young people. Camille Sweenly also points out, that adolescents may not fully understand that they still grow and change, but plastic surgery is permanent. Another important point would be that there is other healthier and safer ways to achieve lots of the things they desire, and what teens call perfect is not achievable.
2. How does Valerie Ulene engage the reader in the subject in text 1? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text. Valerie Ulene starts out by telling about her own nose, which she hated in her teenage years. “To say I disliked my nose as a teenager would be an understatement. Both its size (too big) and its shape (hooked) made me feel as if I stood out. Though I sometimes fantasized about getting it “done,” She admits getting it ‘done’ was a fantasize of hers, and it almost seems as if she is for plastic surgery.
She continues: “Though a nose job wasn’t something I ever considered seriously. At the time, the plastic surgery boom was just beginning to gain steam and, for the most part, adolescents weren’t on-board. Times have certainly changed. ” She finishes. She introduces the reader about her personal youth Struggles, and it makes the text interesting and captivating. The reader can possibly relate to having a feature which is not wanted. By talking about her own daughter and her role as a parent, is her opinion also more credible.
She has been a teen, she is mother for a teen girl now, and her cosmetic concerns are nowadays different. In the end she says, “As far as my own nose goes, I’ve never really grown to love it. I have grown used to it, however, and have no regrets that it was never “fixed. ” It’s simply part of who I am. At 44 years of age, my nose is actually the least of my cosmetic concerns – it’s my aging skin that haunts me now. ” She finishing by telling that her nose is not an issue anymore. Now she has other concerns, like her aging skin.
Her point here is, that people change, and teenagers could come to regret their choices later in life, when a small nose and larger breasts may not be that important anymore. 3. Taking your starting point in text 3, discuss whether cosmetic surgery on teenagers should be banned. – I find that the ban for cosmetic surgery for teens being a great idea. Actually I think that 18 years old, is not old enough. Dr. Malcolm Z. Roth claims that some teens are intelligent and mature enough to comprehend the risks of cosmetic surgery.
Maybe he is right, but I sure think that there are at least as many who should not be able to take such a great decision. I think it is ridicules and crazy to even consider interfering with the body in the teen years. It can’t be healthy to disrupt the body’s natural evolution, and it’s only for the reason to look more perfect. Perfect is too strong a word, and when it comes to looks, it should never be used. I clearly think cosmetic surgery should be banned because if not, it could become mainstream. If it becomes mainstream it could become a norm, and especially young people hates breaking the norms.