Yummy Mummies
| Published: 26th June 2008 17:38 |
Yummy mummies
We've all seen pictures of celebrities who resemble stick insects just weeks after giving birth and manage to maintain a well-manicured appearance despite bringing up three children. However, the reality of motherhood for most women is a tired complexion, a heavier physique and precious little time for applying luxuries such as make-up.
We may not realise it but images in glossy magazines and on the television influence us more than we think. A recent survey reveals that most mums feel that so-called ‘yummy mummy' celebrities are placing too much pressure on them to live up to an unattainable ideal.
You might not pay much attention to Victoria Beckham and similar celebrity mums, but 81 per cent of mothers say they feel pressured to look immaculate and feel sexy for their partner, according to a survey by moisturiser manufacturer, Nivea Soft. A further 37 per cent say they not only need to look good but be successful career women to boot.
Not surprisingly, the waif-like celebrity topping the list of unrealistic role models is Victoria Beckham while 11 per cent thought Brad Pitt's missus, Angelina Jolie, was most unattainable. Material girl, Madonna was the third most unrealistic role model, but all were accused of portraying an impossible ideal of juggling family life, a successful career and always looking perfectly groomed.
Yet it's not just physical ideals modern mums are stifled by as the report also reveals a wealth of fresh pressures facing noughties mums. Green pressures, from being seen to recycle to sourcing local produce, are a major concern for 50 per cent of mums. Whilst celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver have left over 75 per cent paranoid about what they are feeding their kids.
If feeling like an inadequate mum isn't bad enough, the unrealistic ‘yummy mummy' ideal is also leaving everyday mums feeling like second rate citizens. A significant 67 per cent of mums believe they are seen solely as a mum as opposed to a woman. A further 32 per cent of these women feel utterly undesirable and say that men have looked straight past them since they've had a child.
Psychologist David Moxon says: "When an ideal like ‘yummy mummy' is forced on society, particularly when it's spearheaded with unrealistic celebrity role models, it alters expectations and attitudes towards motherhood. When society starts to place idealistic views of how mums should appear it not only leaves them feeling disillusioned with their own lives it can also lead to partners, family members and friends being dismissive when mums in their own life don't live up to these unrealistic expectations."
But while mums might be worrying about what they look like it appears their families are oblivious to the pressure they are under. A huge 87 per cent of us are guilty of thinking that our mums have plenty of time to concentrate on themselves. What's more, this lack of appreciation isn't going unnoticed, with one in ten mums feeling they are most appreciated by their pet and shockingly 69 per cent feel that their partner doesn't appreciate them at all.
Interestingly, it is young adults that appear to be the most concerned about the time their mums spend striving to be the perfect mum. A third of people worry that their mum doesn't keep in touch with her friends as much as she should and 28 per cent think that their mum doesn't have enough interests outside of the household.
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