Ahh the first week of school -- what a downer. Everything changes when the semester starts -- no late-night swim parties, 4 a.m. Del Taco runs or afternoons spent lying in the hammock. Instead it's time for late-night study groups, waiting in endless lines at the MU and afternoons spent in Spanish lab.
Things have changed down here in the dungeon (I mean magazine office), too. But these changes aren't quite so painful. For one thing, the mug shot at the top of the page has changed. Gone is the charming smile of last semester's fearless leader, Lynh Bui. Now it's my slightly less charming face that you'll see grinning out at you all semester long. Lucky you. I promise to fill this space with plenty of sarcastic, provocative commentary. Or at least to fill it with something you'll find slightly entertaining as you're choking down your lunch at the Memorial Union or huffing and puffing on the cross trainer at the Student Recreation Center.
The start of the new semester inspires raging insecurity -- especially on a Barbie doll filled campus like ASU. I'm a fairly confident woman and I still find myself walking down Palm Walk comparing myself to almost everyone in sight. Fortunately, I don't base my self worth on my waistline or haircut. It's sad how many women don't realize how awesome they really are. Almost everyone wishes there was something they could change about themselves. Who doesn't want smaller thighs, fuller lips, a smaller second toe...
Yes, a smaller second toe.
Our image-conscious society has become so obsessed with being perfect that even our feet are no longer good enough. Writer Rebecca Clark reports that women are having plastic surgery done on their feet to make them daintier, more feminine and to increase their comfort while they wear high heels (check out page 6).
If you find yourself dumbfounded at the thought of cosmetic foot surgery -- you're not alone. The thought made me ill as well. Don't get me wrong -- I am absolutely, certifiably obsessed with high heels. Few things in fashion can excite me the way a well-made heel and a pointy toe can. But there is no way I'm going to slice off part of my foot or have bones taken out of my toes so I can wear more comfortable shoes and hear people tell me how "cute" my feet look.
It's sad that our collective self-image has become so distorted that women constantly seek new ways to hate their bodies. Then again, fashion has always dictated a woman's body must be pushed and pulled in all directions in order to conform to the style de jour.
I guess unlike magazine staffs and lazy summer days, some things never change.
Reach the reporter at megan.irwin@asu.edu.
