Stereotypes And Body Image

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In today’s world, body image is a key concept that engulfs most of every teenage persons mind. Everywhere you look, images of thin, young, beautiful women and toned, muscular men are looking back at you. This image is the symbol of today's culture. Teenagers are exposed to an enormous amount of media that portrays the average person in an extremely unrealistic way. The people that are idolized on television are often shown with unrealistic, and so-called “beautiful” bodies. Teenagers often get caught up in this type of media, and allow it to get into their minds and control the ways that they think. Teens are always being reminded of how they should look and what they should do to fit in with the people the media show as perfect. Many teens put themselves into groups of people like them and reject anyone else who doesn't share their interests and similarities, and the media fails to realize that showing stereotypes and praising certain body images is effecting the lives of everyday teenagers in a great and uncontrollable way. The media is constantly sending false and offensive messages out to the world by showing these images of these people. Stereotyping is not only judgmental, but it creates a horrible environment and atmosphere to every who is subjected to it. The media, as well as the people it effects, causes people to discriminate against others who aren't viewed with an ideal body image. Discrimination against the youth is well recorded. According to a Yale University study, a full 66 percent of people in the past decade have been discriminated against because of their body image. An article written on WordPress.com argues, "The media is viewed by so many citizens of all ages. Our teens are the ones who seem to view the ... ... middle of paper ... ...body image belongs to today's social media. If the media of today would stop showing this body type there would be an enormous change in the discrimination of today's teenagers. The body type that is considered to be beautiful is commonly known to be: tall, thin, and attractive. The media suggests that if you aren't this way, you aren't beautiful. This idea sinks in to the minds of today's youth, and makes them believe that they aren't good enough and that they don't fit in. If the media started showing all kinds of shapes, sizes, and appearances, the discrimination against teens would disappear. These teens that previously felt judged would start to feel like they are beautiful and like they fit in with society. Once all teenagers are able to say that they are confident with their appearance, weight, and body, will be the day that social media allows them to do so.

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