1. We aren't viewed as humans as much as we are bodies.

Here we have the beginning problem and probably the umbrella of all of our many issues. We have stopped viewing each other as humans who are capable of wonderful things. Now, we don't worry about their heart or what they are capable of. When you meet someone now, when you start dating someone now, when you encounter strangers on the street, all the time we are judging everyone by their bodies in so many ways. Are they skinny enough? Pretty enough? Heck, some people even look at others to see if they are white enough. This idea of bodies is the reason our culture is literally OBSESSED with bodies rather than PEOPLE.

2. "Female bodies are MUCH sexier than male bodies."

Our media definitely has a male gaze. We can sexualize the female body as much as we want, but a male not as much. Yes, we have stores like Hollister with shirtless guys on their bags or Armani commercials, but this is nothing like how we sexualize the female body. Let's pose a beautiful blond in a provocative way on the hood of this car. No, she isn't a porn star or a Playboy bunny; this is just your typical Hardees commercial. It's to the point that women aren't being allowed to use their breasts for what they are used for. We can have Victoria Secret posters in the middle of the mall showing scantily clad women all over the store, but all hell breaks loose when women try to feed their babies in some public places.

3. Tattoos (piercings, hair dying, etc.) are seen as ruining your body.

This just needs to stop. Let people wear what they want. Let them pierce and tattoo what they want. If you disagree then don't choose to get that on your own body but know you have ZERO control of anyone's body but your own. Stop looking at tattoos as trash and start seeing them as the art pieces that they can be. The skin is the canvas and rather than typical paints, the tattoo artist uses ink to create a permanent piece of walking, talking, breathing art.

4. We workout to get skinny.

This one is a big problem I have. I am so tired of hearing about people continually working out to just get thin and skinny. We need to work out to get healthy. Working out isn't a race that ends when you are skinny. If we viewed working out like that, then it would be a never ending cycle. Someone would work out to get skinny, get where they want to be, stop working out, and get bigger again. We should work out to be the healthiest, happiest version of ourselves. I'm not saying I am always good at this, but I also know that my goals need to be in the right place.

5. We don't even understand what an average person should look like.

Thanks to most stores, we have an issue of knowing what an average or healthy sized body should look like. We have extra thin models being idols for girls who end up developing eating disorders. Girls try to cut down and squeeze to fit in the "oh-so-perfect" size 00. We need to appreciate a wide range of sizes. I am NOT saying put down smaller people because all bodies are beautiful no matter the size. We just need to stop digging at one another.

6. We put down one body type in an attempt to lift the other one up.

This point goes along well with the last one. Yes, bigger people tend to get picked on but we aren't going to fix that issue by picking on smaller people. That will only create more issues. We see quotes all over saying things like "Real men like meat, only dogs like bones." Not only is this putting down skinnier women, this is also putting down the men who just find skinny women more attractive. We all have our own types in every aspect. People like blondes, others like brunettes. Some people like curvy women, some like athletically built women. This doesn't mean it's necessarily wrong. This just becomes an issue when they put down people who aren't their type just because of hair color, body size, etc. Real men and women like whoever and whatever they like, regardless of any body size.

7. We all know media puts a lot of pressure on females, but what about the men?

This goes along with the hidden insult in the "Real men" quote. We know women have our own issues with society but what about men? We see plenty of representation of plus size women in modeling, but when is the last time you saw a plus size guy? Where is their representation in magazines? They don't have any representation. This is partly because people focus more on women's sizing in clothes which is why we have number sizes, and letters, and different names representing different cuts of clothing. Guys have hidden expectations that they have to follow in order to be considered "attractive."

8. We start sexualizing bodies as soon as our babies are born.

We like to start them early. Even as babies we focus on how they look rather than what they are capable. Is the baby cute? Who cares as much if they are able to crawl earlier than normal or walk early or talk early. Maybe they are extremely smart. We don't always notice this because we are too focused on which parent the baby looks like rather than letting the baby look like THEMSELVES. Stop putting your son in a onesie that says "ladies man" and let him be a little boy! Stop putting your daughter in a onesie that says "my thighs are huge" and let her enjoy her childhood while she can! Let's start fixing this body issue with our newest generations. Raise your kids to look for the best in people. Raise strong young men and women who see each other as minds and souls rather than just another body. Teach them their worth and show them that you know yours. Let's work on making this a better world.