Body image is how someone perceives his or her body (“Body Image – Women”). There is a variation of problems that can result from body image dissatisfaction. Some of these are: low self-esteem, depression, self-harm and eating disorders. Most people want what they think is an ideal body. Sometimes the body they are striving for is unreachable but that may not stop them from trying. The average model is five eleven and weighs a hundred and seventeen pounds. This may be the body women want but the average woman is five four and a hundred and forty pounds (“ Body Image”). These averages are not close but an average woman still thinks she can have that body and would do anything for it. Wanting to be thinner and have that ideal body is seen as normal (Ossola, Alexandra). Even if someone desperately tries to get that ideal body and does not care about the dangerous outcomes, it is only normal. The increasing pressure on attractive physical appearance may be intensifying people’s inferiorities, which could have drastic effects on the overall health of society. Body image dissatisfaction has not been contained in the U.S. and Europe. It has spread around the world. In different countries there may be different causes or different parts of the body that are emphasized. This spread of body image dissatisfaction could be a result of the spread of social media. Professor Mellor has stated after research that parents are the main influence on children in Chile while the media and peers influence children in western countries (Deakin Research Communications). This dissatisfaction mainly spreads to more developed countries because it deals with weight and food intake. Food is used for controlling feelings so starving countries would not hav... ... middle of paper ... ...nshealth.gov. N.p., 22 Sept. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. "Body Image - Women." Better Health Channel. State Government of Victoria, 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Deakin Research Communications. "Body Image Problems." Deakin University Australia Worldly. Deakin University, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Eating Disorders Statistics." ANAD. ANAD, n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.Ossola, Alexandra. "The Media's Effect on Women's Body Image." Hamilton. The Trustees of Hamilton College, 1 Sept. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. Morris, Anne M., and Debra K. Katzman. "The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Chicldren and Adolescents." PMC. NCBI, n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. Mysko, Claire. "Fighting Eating Disordrs with Facebook." CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Mar. 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. "National Eating Disorders Association." National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
Hass, Cheryl J., et al. "An Intervention for the Negative Influence of Media on Body Esteem." College Student Journal 46.2 (2012): 405-418. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
Body image is what you believe about your physical appearance. Images of beautiful men and women are displayed everywhere from billboards to television advertisements. Fortunately, everyone does not look the same. Looking at models and movie stars often can create a negative self image of oneself in relation to these images. Approximately 46 percent of men of normal weight think about how they look constantly or frequently (Cloud, 46). The emergence of men’s new obsession with body image is connected to pressures from the media, plastic surgeons, and peers.
“The attention-grabbing pictures of various high-flying supermodels and actors on different magazine covers and advertisements go a long way in influencing our choices” (Bagley). The media is highly affective to everyone, although they promote an improper image of living. Research proved says those with low self-esteem are most influenced by media. Media is not the only culprit behind eating disorders. However, that does not mean that they have no part in eating disorders. Media is omnipresent and challenging it can halt the constant pressure on people to be perfect (Bagley). Socio-cultural influences, like the false images of thin women have been researched to distort eating and cause un-satisfaction of an individual’s body. However, it is clear that, although virtually all women are exposed to these socio-cultural influences, only a very small proportion develop clinical eating disorders (Mazzeo and Bulik). Every article believes that socio-culture have an impact on eating disorders. Although, researchers believe that is not the only reason, and the easiest statement to make. Eating disorders are far more complicated than it just being blamed on the media. Bagley, Mazzeo and Bulik all state that media play a role in the development but are not the main reason to developing an eating disorder. In all of the research done thus far media is a part of eating disorders, but not the only culprit.
Body image is the perception, both thoughts, and feelings concerning an individual’s physical appearance. Research has suggested that exposure to an ideal standard of what it may mean to be beautiful is the norm for the media to expose a woman to. The results of an idea of feminine beauty can be disastrous for women, leading to depression, and an unrealistic body image. According to Posavac & Posavac in the article titled Reducing the Impact of Media Images on Women at Risk for Body Image Disturbance: Three Targeted Interventions...
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Dittmar, Helga. "How Do "body Perfect" Ideals in the Media Have a Negative Impact on Body Image and Behaviors? Factors and Processes Related to Self and Identity." : Sussex Research Online. N.p, 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Holmstrom, A. (2004). The effects of the media on the body image: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 48(2), 196-217.
Derenne, J. L., & Beresin, E. V. (2006). Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry, 30(3), 257-261.
Rader, Jonathon. "Does the media cause eating disorders?." healthcarecommunication.com. N.p., 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.
The overwhelming idea of thinness is probably the most predominant and pressuring standard. Tiggeman, Marika writes, “This is not surprising when current societal standards for beauty inordinately emphasize the desirability of thinness, an ideal accepted by most women but impossible for many to achieve.” (1) In another study it is noted that unhealthy attitudes are the norm in term of female body image, “Widespread body dissatisfaction among women and girls, particularly with body shape and weight has been well documented in many studies, so much so that weight has been aptly described as ‘a normative discontent’”. (79) Particularly in adolescent and prepubescent girls are the effects of poor self-image jarring, as the increased level of dis...
Graydon, Shari. “How the Media Keeps us Hung Up on Body Image.” Herizons Summer. 2008:
This study hopes to gain a more in depth view of a demographic that is believed to put a great amount of focus on body image in the way the...
It seems that the media’s portrayal of women has negatively affected the body image of The Wykeham Collegiate senior school girls. The media has a negative effect on the youth of today, primarily amongst the female population when it comes to how young girls and women regard their bodies.
Vargas, L E. (2013) The Negative Effects of The Media on Body Image. Personal.psu.edu. Retrieved 30 Nov. 17 from:
Social Issue Research Centre (2012). Mirror, Mirror- A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image. Retrieved from http://www.sirc.org/publik/mirror.html