Throughout the century, the ideal image of a woman has changed drastically, which can be directly attributed to the powerful persuasion of media. This ideal image has transformed from a voluptuous, size 14, 1950’s Marilyn Monroe to a 5’9, 100 pound, 1990’s Kate Moss. The most shocking aspect is specifically what young girls are now doing to achieve this “Kate Moss” image. Through the utilization of advertisements and stars on the big screen, this female portrayal directly targets the physical and mental well-being of females in cultures across the globe. Throughout history, typical characteristics of the ideal woman have fluctuated between a muscular, curvaceous physique and a small, narrow-waisted physique. In colonial times, women played a crucial role in family survival. At this time, women commonly promoted themselves as physically strong, able, and fertile; however, after the turn of the century, it was more desirable for a woman to be small, frail, and tiny-waisted. Social status became a major factor in this movement. Upper-class men would seek to marry women with these characteristics because the more fragile and unable women were to work, the more justified these plantation owners were to own slaves (Derenne 258). This point in history showed some of the most drastic measures taken to achieve this ideal image, where women appeared sickly and were exceptionally prone to headaches. Finishing schools across the country were teaching young women of status how to properly faint. Some women even went as far as to having their ribs removed – keeping in mind that this was a time of poor medical technologies. Corsets were also at their peak of popularity, which constricted women so greatly that they became short of breath and – in... ... middle of paper ... ...vious statistic of the island having only one recorded eating disorder rose from 0% to a whopping 69% (259). Magazines also share this negative influence in a more subtle way. Women tend to place the models within on a pedestal, viewing them as the definition of female beauty; however, these women also tend to lack insider knowledge, which actress Jamie Lee Curtis had publicly touched on. Works Cited Derenne, Jennifer L., and Eugene V. Beresin. "Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders." Academic Psychiatry 30.3 (2006): 257-61. ProQuest. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. Durham, Meenakshi Gigi. The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do about It. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 2008. Print. Sams, Leroy B., and Janet A. Keels, eds. Handbook on Body Image: Gender Differences, Sociocultural Influences & Health Implications. S.l.: Nova Science, 2013. Print.
Altabe, M. (1996). Ethnicity and Body Image: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis. Tampa, Florida: University of South Florida.
The environment in which people live influences body image concerns. Today, we live in an e...
Patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa include 0.5 to 3.5 percent of the populace, however many more individuals may show symptoms (Comer, 2013).
Derenne, J. L., & Beresin, E. V. (2006). Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry, 30(3), 257-61. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.waketech.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/196508089?accountid=15152
Media is all around us from television to billboards, making it difficult not to be influence by media in one way or another. Unfortunately, media has influence women to believe that in order for women to be considered beautiful, they must for fill the characteristics of what media considers beautiful. Hurting women both psychologically and physically.
The media is a fascinating tool; it can deliver entertainment, self-help, intellectual knowledge, information, and a variety of other positive influences; however, despite its advances for the good of our society is has a particular blemish in its physique that targets young women. This blemish is seen in the unrealistic body images that it presents, and the inconsiderate method of delivery that forces its audience into interest and attendance. Women are bombarded with messages from every media source to change their bodies, buy specific products and redefine their opinion of beauty to the point where it becomes not only a psychological disease, but a physical one as well.
Derenne, Jennifer L., and Eugene V. Beresin. "Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders." Academic Psychiatry 30. June (2006): 257-61. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
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.
M.D. “Body Image: A Clouded Reality”. Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self Knowledge 2.2 (2004): 58-65 pg. Web. 18 Nov 2013.
"The Media." Something Fishy; Website on Eating Disorders. N.p., 2007. Web. 27 Oct 2011. .
When we see women on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even magazine ads, what do we see them as? What does the media usually depict women to be like? Most of the times when I see women on these forms of media, I do not see them as being much of a positive figure. I also do not see these women demonstrating positive behavior. With all of the negativity of women in the media, the perception of women has changed tremendously. The media often makes women out to be depreciated as well as being seen as inferior. The media does not make women out to be smart women who are eligible to accomplish things on their own. Since the beginning of media, women have been portrayed as being submissive, dependent, as well as sexually misrepresented.
Derenne, J. L., & Beresin, E. V. (2006). Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry, 30(3), 257-261.
Dittrich, E. A. "Sociocultural factors that influence body image satisfaction in women. "(Doctoral Dissertation, California Institute of Integral Studies, 1997.)
In this age, media is more pervasive than ever, with people constantly processing some form of entertainment, advertisement or information. In each of these outlets there exists an idealized standard of beauty, statistically shown to effect the consumer’s reflection of themselves. The common portrayal of women’s bodies in the media has shown to have a negative impact on women and girls. As the audience sees these images, an expectation is made of what is normal. This norm does not correspond to the realistic average of the audience. Failing to achieve this isolates the individual, and is particularly psychologically harmful to women. Though men are also shown to also be effected negatively by low self-esteem from the media, there remains a gap as the value of appearance is seen of greater significance to women, with a booming cosmetic industry, majority of the fashion world, and the marketing of diet products and programs specifically targeting women.
Portrayal of Women in the Media Gender is the psychological characteristics and social categories that are created by human culture. Gender is the concept that humans express their gender when they interact with one another. Messages about how a male or female is supposed to act come from many different places. Schools, parents, and friends can influence a person.