Media's Negative Influence On Body Image

According to Psychology Today, body image is the mental representation a person creates. Body image can be distorted by mass media and can influence a person's behaviour. Distortions of body image are widespread among females and, to a lesser extent, among males. Mass media is a big part of the 21st century. Whether it is through television, magazines, newspapers, online, or billboards, we are inundated with advertisements on a daily basis. Magazine advertisement have a negative influence on the body image among young adult men and women. "Exposure to fashion magazines is related to women's greater preoccupation with being thin, dissatisfaction with their bodies, frustration about weight, and fear about deviating from the thin standard." (Turner et al 1997). According to Norman (2011) males common body concerns included height, muscularity, fatness, skin complexion, fashion sense and style. There are consequences of living in a society in which media promote a thin body image, such as, the desire to alter their physical appearance cosmetically or surgically or to slide into the grips of anorexia or bulimia.

Although this is still true today, the element of advertising has switched from informational to symbolic connotation. Advertisements are preying on the emotions of people, such as, desires for health, wealth, social status and, in particular, body image. Much of the advertising tries to promote a product in a way that defines an "ideal" body image. This strategy affects both men and women but has a larger impact on women. Women in advertising are often shown in an unrealistic light. These distorted images are setting a standard of what is "attractive" in today's society and, in turn, send a negative message about acceptable body image. Women feel under pressure to have an unrealistic, unattainable and unhealthy body