Have you ever been looking at a magazine and notice you are not “what a guy wants”? Or have you ever sat and watched television and then proceeded to look into the mirror and feel so badly about your appearance that you felt depressed? Many women in today’s world experience these same feelings each time they come in contact with some type of media. The media has always used women as a way to sell products or used them as propaganda, but how far is too far? The media is a large source of entertainment for women of today. Women spend the majority of their time looking at magazines for latest fashions or trends. These media sources all share one subject: negative images of women. These places all share one thing; negative images of women. Women are being used as a sex object and are not portrayed how the average woman looks. These portrayals can lead to loss of self-esteem and also weight loss. Women should know that they need their spiritual health to live happily and not be influenced by the images that the media portray as the “perfect” body. Women need to have a feeling of being safe, powerful and comfortable within their own bodies.
“Media has a negative impact on the way women feel about their bodies”, says Julie Parsons a clinical social worker (WVU). The media is such a huge influence in people’s lives sometimes they don’t realize it. As women are walking down the street, the media can influence them. As people are riding in the car, the media can influence them. And even as people are sitting in the comfort of their own home, the media can influence them. The media is everywhere influencing our lives; from television to magazines to the Internet (Media’s Negative). As a woman grows older she often finds it difficult to be secure in her own body. America has a “desirable” standard that many women want and try to live up too (Media’s not). This is why the media has so many young women that are extremely underweight for their height and bone structure. Weight and shape concerns are influenced by the media
(Media’s portrayal). This “desirable” standard has so many women feeling obese that women cannot think about themselves in a healthy way, which is an enormous problem.
The culture of today’s society is surrounded by looks. People in society believe they have to have the “right” car, the “rig...
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... late. People need to better themselves and not turn into society where the problems with eating disorders and extreme dieting are not so widespread. Women need to focus on the types of media that present information on helping women of today better themselves and live longer and happier lives.
Works Cited
I am my body: Celebrating Women’s Lives. Ophra. 3 Feb 2004
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Martin, Nichole and Luisa Metcalfe. “Sex, drugs and thin models worry us, girls tell minister.” The (London, England) Daily Telegraph (July 22, 1999). 3 Feb 2004. .
Mass Media’s Negative Effect on Women. Life News. 3 Feb
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Media’s Negative Influence. 3 Feb 2004
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The Media’s Not So Entertaining Side. University of
Louisville. 11 Feb 2004 .
The Media’s Portrayal of Women. Towson. 11 Feb 2004
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The Media’s Ticket to Getting Attention. Kelly Koblacki.
Harlem Live. 3 Feb 2004 .
Smith, Craig. “Body:The Value of Women, Shereen Noon, USA,
60 Minutes.”P-64 (Dec.5, 2003). 3 Feb 2004.
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WVU study to examine media’s effect on high schoolers’ self image, eating habits. Amanda Yellon. The Diamondback. 3 Feb 2004 .