I was so excited to flip open the March issue of Seventeen (yes, I read Seventeen) and see that a very savvy Capital District gal had a letter to the editor published.  In the January issue of the magazine, editors ran a "real life" story on teens and plastic surgery.  Courtney, a 16 year old from Troy, wrote in and called Seventeen editors out on the conflicting images Seventeen editors sent to young women about empowerment and body image by running this story. 

She writes:

"I thought the article "I Got a Nose Job" was shallow and appaling.  As a inspiration to girls all over the country, Seventeen magazine is supposed to encourage self-confidence and inner beauty.  In this article you do none of that-instead, you make it seem permissible for girls to get surgery to improve themselves! Next time you should evaluate who the readers of your articles are and what influence have may have on them."

While I personally don’t have a solid opinion on the cosmetic surgery industry (while I think it’s totally inappropriate for teens who are still growing, and the number of surgeries in the U.S. on women’s breasts and genetalia is appalling, I am  not so certain that I’m steadfastly against some cosmetic surgery for women who can afford it and who justifiably need it such as mastectomy or scarring from a burn etc..  My opinion is still malleable"¦ feel free to try and convince me either way), it’s completely out of line for a magazine that appeals to young women to discuss plastic surgery without also discussing positive body image for girls and the ramifications of an image-obsessed culture.  Courtney makes a really important point: Seventeen has a strong following of young women who really internalize what the magazine says and take its articles to heart (and for good reason!  Seventeen’s a great glossy), so the editors need to be careful what they tell readers.  I think a better article could be a critique of plastic surgery among teens, discussing the plastic surgery craze in our country and why it’s important to wait until one’s body has fully matured to go under the knife. I further want to say especially to women and young ones in particular that beauty is on the inside and its all about the confidence you have within. As a woman it frustrates me that I see far too much cosmetic surgery the one lesson that women have yet to learn is that beauty is fleeting learn to age gracefully and with dignity and you will see the beauty will always remain.

In any respect, Courtney: you go, girl!