What started out on the app Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, has recently gone viral. The 'A4 Challenge.' This cultural phenomenon is heavily influencing females to engage in the 'A4 Challenge.' Young women are posting pictures on the internet of their ideal waist-lines with the hastag #PaperThin, while holding up a piece of A4 paper in front.
The size of an A4 paper is only 21 centimeters in width. Unfortunately, if your waist-line is bigger than 21 centimeters you lose the challenge.This beauty standard is nearly impossible if you don't already have a naturally slim figure. Even so, I myself am a small frame woman and I would not make the cut.
This absurd challenge only glorifies the everyday challenges of being a woman. If it already isn't hard enough. The underlying problem is society willingly goes to extreme efforts to achieve "beauty" even if that means being unhealthy.
I highly discourage participation in the 'A4 Challenge' because it creates comparison among others. Furthermore, this challenge could potentially trigger eating disorders in order to gain the paper-thin approval of others.
Why does society try to always force an 'ideal' body type on women? This year, thin. Next year, curvy. Last year, thigh gaps.
Social acceptance among peers and strangers in China is particularly high. This is not the first time a controversial trend has happened. In the past, users of Weibo have participated in the 'bellybuttonchallenge' and 'underboob pen challenge.'
So who technically qualifies as paper-thin? Only a minuscule percentage of the population does. #NotPaperThin has begun trending on social media platforms as a counter-movement in efforts to promote healthy body image.
Regardless of your body type, love the skin you're in. Throw being skinny out the window..what about being happy?
