The Media Lies: Effects of the Media on Body Image
analytical Essay
1841 words
The Media Lies: Effects of the Media on Body Image Recent studies have shown that approximately 75 percent of adolescent females wish to be thinner and over 35 percent of them resort to drastic extremes to achieve the new “thin ideal.” (Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adolescent Girls) Today in our culture, this ideal of body image is portrayed in every aspect of our lives. We see a representation of attractive, extremely thin women in magazines, television shows, movies, commercials, etc. The new body image, which today is described as being perfect, is a new, unrealistic standard of skinny. This type of representation presented by the media compels female adolescents to view themselves in negative ways which results in eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, or even depression. The new standard of the “thin ideal,” according to society, is simply unattainable and irrational. So the question still remains: How has the media altered female adolescence’s perspectives on the “perfect” body image, and how has this changed our female society? While women have made significant advances over the past decades, the culture at large never fails to place a strong emphasis on the way women look. The new standards for beauty are ultimately causing dramatic influences on adolescent females and their body image. Anyone who is familiar with American culture knows that these new standards for beauty is proliferated through the media. No matter the source, we are constantly surrounded by all kinds of media, and we continue to construct ourselves based on the images we see through the media. The more young girls are surrounded by the “thin ideal” kind of media, the more they will continue to be dissatisfied with their bodies and themselves. Thi... ... middle of paper ... ...fect on Women's Body Image - Hamilton College." Hamilton College. Hamilton College, 1 Sept. 2010. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. McLean, S.A., S.J. Paxton, and E.H. Wertheim. "Mediators Of The Relationship Between Media Literacy And Body Dissatisfaction In Early Adolescent Girls: Implications For Prevention." Body Image 10.3 (2013): 282-289. Scopus®. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Clay, Daniel, Vivian L. Vignoles, and Helga Dittmar. "Body Image And Self-Esteem Among Adolescent Girls: Testing The Influence Of Sociocultural Factors." Journal Of Research On Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell) 15.4 (2005): 451-477. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Sofia, Fernandez, and Pritchard Mary. "Relationships Between Self-Esteem, Media Influence And Drive For Thinness." Eating Behaviors 13.(n.d.): 321-325. ScienceDirect. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Anonymous. Personal interview. 16 March 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the media has altered female adolescence's perspectives on the "perfect" body image, and how this has changed our female society.
- Argues that the media's portrayal of the "thin ideal" is causing dramatic influences on adolescent females and their body image.
- Argues that the media broadcasts the "thin ideal" in every possible way, which can shape and distort adolescent female's perceptions of beauty.
- Argues that the female norm of body image has changed drastically over the last several decades, showing that what is universally accepted as beautiful is constantly changing and will never be the permanent ideal.
- Explains how the media is detrimental to adolescent females through the use of photoshop and plastic surgery.
- Explains how the media's representation of photoshopped images of unreal ideals hurt so many adolescent girls.
- Argues that bulimia and anorexia in females are related to media depictions of idealized bodies, which is all but unavoidable. young girls need to realize their true, natural beauty.
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- Media's Negative Influence On Body Imageopinion essayIn today’s society, young women are constantly reminded of what the standard definition of beauty is and what your body should look like in order to be considered beautiful. For instance, flipping through a beauty magazine or watching a music video and you’ll note that all most of the females all have a small structure. This message can have a negative impact on one’s self esteem. Media outlets give off the impression that having the “ideal” body is the key to having the perfect life, perfect marriage, success, and overall happiness. For instance, many weight loss infomercials emphasize that losing weight and becoming skinny will improve all those aspects in life. These messages have the potential for adolescents to develop an eating disorder in order to achieve things that we all desire. Although that message may be unintentional, the rapid growth of media allows adolescents to have access to both negative and positive messages that can influence body image.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the rapid growth of media allows adolescents to have access to both negative and positive messages that can influence body image.
- Explains that victoria secret's under garments ad and meghan trainor’s music video will demonstrate positive influences on body image.
- Analyzes how music videos of all genres promote one body type, while others use their platform to bring positivity and self-love for women. meghan trainer's "all about that bass" is a full-figured woman.
- Analyzes how meghan trainer's lyrics state that the "perfect" body is portrayed on advertisement prints and magazines, not how the person’s body really looks in reality because of photoshop.
- Opines that society caters more to females who have one certain body type or advertise one particular look, which is a small and tall body frame.
- Opines that society should accommodate more to females who are a size 10 — it's upsetting to see healthy girls dramatically change their body to fit in with what our culture deems ideal.
- Opines that parents play a critical role in the development of children's self-esteem.
- Opines that society and views on body image may never change and it is important for individuals to develop a strong sense of self-love where they don't feel the need to conform to anyone else's description.
2003 wordsRead More - Body Image in the Mediaopinion essayHow does the media influence our body image? In what forms, does the media influence our perceptions about our body? These were the two questions that I asked myself in order to do the research paper and the panel discussion. In my opinion, I would agree that the media does influence and promote women and men to believe that the culture's standards for body image are ideal. Hence, the phrases, "thin is in" and "the perfect body" are two examples of "eye-catching" headlines that I observed in many women magazines. I learned that the media influences us through television, fashion and health magazines, music videos, film, commercials, and various other advertisements. Sadly, as a result, this repeated exposure, the "thin" ideal, can lead many young girls in triggering eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem, stress, and suicide. After acquiring this relevant information, I decided to focus my research on what type of media influences elementary school children and the adolescent teenager. The three central types of media that I found that did indeed influence body image are: Fashion magazines, famous top-models and actresses, and teenage or young adult women in the music industry.
In this essay, the author
- Explains how the media influences women and men to believe that the culture's standards for body image are ideal. this repeated exposure can lead to eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem, stress, and suicide.
- Explains how the seretean center for health promotion coined the term "body image" to describe a person's inner sense of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the physical appearance of their body.
- Explains that many teen girls don't understand that looking exactly like their favorite supermodel is unrealistic. this compulsion to be "thin" leads to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
- Explains that many teen girls watch and observe actresses like calista flockhart, courtney cox, jennifer aniston, gweneth paltrow, lara flynn boyle and many others who have gone from an "average" weight to a "sickly, death look."
- Concludes that many of hollywood's most notable actresses and performers have become partners in the "thin is in" look in this industry.
- Opines that they would rather have more women like kate winslet, rosie o'donnell, emme and many other "average" women on the covers of popular magazines and television.
1235 wordsRead More - Media and Body Imageargumentative essayPopular culture has a large influence on everyone; it can persuade or entice its audience. One part of popular culture that has a large influence on the general population is how women displayed are in mass media. Women in popular culture show indirectly that being thin is successful and beautiful. With this false message transmitted, serious problems occur. The influence of women in popular culture and how they present themselves can be a breeding place for physical and emotional unrest. When women are objectified in popular culture, they set a standard on how one should appear.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that studies from the department of psychology at the university of sydney claim that the increasing visuals of thin women in media cause dissatisfaction in women.
- Explains that women are affected by media exposure because of the actual way in which they see the images presented. they develop low self-esteem when they compare themselves to women in popular culture.
- Explains that the standard of beauty portrayed by women in popular culture negatively affects female self-esteem. disney princesses or the main female characters in a disney movie are often shown as the "ideal" woman.
- Concludes that women in popular culture influence the normal standard of beauty, which has caused an effect on waist size, and the physical and emotional health of today’s society.
- Explains that popular culture has a large influence on everyone; it can persuade or entice its audience.
- Opines that the fashion industry should not be held responsible for eating disorders.
- Analyzes the influence of media, advertising, and popular culture on the self esteem, identity and body image of adolescent girls.
1001 wordsRead More - Body Imageanalytical essaySociety is greatly affected by the media’s outlook on different aspects of life, it has a large effect on body image. Body image in America has been a growing problem for years as more young women feel the need to do anything they can to stay thin, trying to live up to what society has taught them is beauty. Many of these ideals have been presented through the media, social and general alike. However, there are also positive sides to the media and they are now doing positive things to improve body image in young women today.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that society is affected by the media's outlook on different aspects of life, and it has a large effect on body image in america.
- Defines body image as a subjective picture of one's physical appearance established by self-observation and by noting the reactions of others.
- Analyzes how body image has changed dramatically since the 1890s, when lillian russell was a definition of beauty weighing about 200 pounds.
- Analyzes how social media has had a huge impact on body image in today's society. coleman noticed how facebook became 'the encyclopedia of beauty and status and comparisons', causing girls to be more self-conscious about their looks.
- Explains that social media sites like tumblr and pinterest are beginning to take a stand against negative body image and self-harm in general.
- Explains that media is fueling the fire for preconceived notions of beauty. one study showed that women who watched reality television and music videos spent more time comparing themselves to the women they saw.
- Explains that while there are many things in the media that can cause a negative body image, there is also other things on the internet to help people struggling with body-image disorders.
- Opines that the hardest part of dealing with a distorted body image is the recovery process. the national eating disorder association explains the five steps to recovery; denial, admitting, preparing, action, and maintenance.
- Explains that the media's effect on body image is an ongoing issue that can be resolved if given the time.
- Explains that american psychological association. "sexualization of girls." 2007.
- Explains brotsky, sarah r. unerstanding stages of change in the recovery process.
- Explains dixon, kim, tiffany kary, and dan maccrone's body as history.
- Explains enayati, amanda. facebook: the encyclopedia of beauty? 16 march 2012.
- Cites gibson, megan. thinterest? when social networking and body image collide.
- Analyzes grabe, shelly, janet hyde, and monique ward's "the role of the media in body image concerns among women: a meta- analysis of experimental and correlational studies."
- Explains reality television and its impact on women's body image.
- Analyzes how zafar, aylin, tumblr bans pro-eating disorder and other self-harm blogs.
1496 wordsRead More - Unhealthy Images of the Female Bodyanalytical essaySelf-esteem is considered to be a “positive or negative attitude toward… the self” (Clay 451). Negative attitudes in young women can stem from a variety of internal or external forces. An accurate method to measure a young female’s self-esteem is through the interpretation of body dissatisfaction and what provokes it. Body dissatisfaction occurs due to three things, in the present day: the desire to be thin, the dread of weight gain and the idea that weight and shape are essential to a female’s character (Levine 11). All of these determinants of body dissatisfaction are a result of how media uses an unrealistic female body in virtually all of its aspects, thus creating a cultural norm that being "thin is attractive" (Levine 15).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that women in various cultures have always felt the pressure to conform to specific ideals. the new phenomenon in western society is telling women that beauty has requirements.
- Analyzes how the ad campaign by victoria's secret, love my body, reinforces the narrow image of beauty created in western society by choosing models that conform to westernized beauty standards.
- Explains that self-esteem is a positive or negative attitude toward the self. negative attitudes in young women stem from internal or external forces, such as the desire to be thin, the dread of weight gain, and the idea that weight and shape are essential to female character.
- Explains that females involved in experiments show a significant decrease in body satisfaction after viewing images of ultra-skinny, busty women from media sources. this suggests that the media's portrayal of women encouraged them to lose weight.
- Argues that the media is responsible for spreading images that conform to the thin ideal, citing a 1996 study. 75% of women rated themselves as "too fat"
883 wordsRead More - Idealized Body and Social Mediaopinion essay“From children's toys to TV programs, images of the idealized body have permeated every level of our visual culture” (Swinson). As the Advertisement industry continues to grow, the focus on looks is increasing as well. With around half of the advertisements using beauty as an appeal to sell their products(Teen Health and the Media), the pressures to be 'perfect' are causing women to become dissatisfied with their looks, driving them to turn to unhealthy measures. The average teenage girl gets a significantly greater amount of media time each day compared to the amount of time they spend with their parents, this is usually around 180 minutes of media per ten minutes spent with their parents (Heubeck). With so much time spent on media influenced activities, and the constant exposure to unhealthy models, it is no surprise that women are being influenced. Most female fashions models wear a size two or four, while the average American wears a size twelve or fourteen (Mirror-Mirror).When advertisements manipulate the photos of their models, it alters the way that women view themselves. Advertisers should not be allowed to promote unhealthy body images because it leads to an increase in self-consciousness, eating disorders, and suicide.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that advertisers should not promote unhealthy body images because it leads to an increase in self-consciousness, eating disorders, and suicide.
- Opines that the media's emphasis on having a flawless body, or face, is starting to influence girls at an early age.
- Explains that the media's influence on body image is attacking self-confidence, leading to eating disorders.
- Explains that suicide is a long-term solution to temporary problems. people take their own lives because they have been driven to the point where they believe that they will never be good enough, and are completely worthless.
- Opines that the media should not promote unhealthy body images.
950 wordsRead More - The Media's Influence on Adolescent's Body Imageanalytical essayAdolescence is a time for learning and growth. This time can be easier to handle by some than others. For some it can be a revelation of new experiences and ideas, while adolescence can also be a difficult, stressful time for those trying to discover themselves. This can affect themselves as well as those around them. During this time, adolescents are likely to identify with those around them, their peers. Identifying with peers can help adolescents along by giving them the opportunity to see how others deal with problems similar to their own and by offering their own advice to those who need it. Along with this, adolescents are liable to worry about their body image, and may want to conform to those who have achieved the “desired” image. This image may be thin, muscular, or just average. Nevertheless, some adolescents will go too far to achieve this image, usually this is done by adolescent females who wish to become thin. This can be attributed to media’s portrayal of women. The majority of women in ads, television and movies are thin and are seen as attractive because of this. Adolescent girls will see these women and may want their image as their own, and some will go to any lengths to acquire this. This in turn could lead to the idea that during this process of change and growing up, adolescents are often concerned about their physical image, which is influenced by the media.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that adolescents are liable to worry about their body image, and may want to conform to those who have achieved the "desired" image.
- Explains that adolescents may want to change their body image during adolescence. they may feel unsatisfied with their bodies.
- Analyzes how the media popularizes the female figure as very thin, stating that the majority of actresses throughout the history of media have been thin.
- Explains that adolescent girls read magazines to make themselves more attractive to others. famous designers tailor their designs to the needs of tall, thin women.
- Argues that a thin body has become synonymous with self-discipline, success, and control in society.
- Describes how the bloomington health division and the division of epidemiology at the university of minnesota joined together to create a program called "taste of food, fun, and fitness".
- Opines that adolescents can be influenced to have a positive body image despite negative media influences. american girl magazines focus on positive outlooks on the young girl's lifestyle.
- Analyzes how oprah winfrey's weight roller coaster attracts attention by using popular public figures. about-face criticizes the media for instilling unachievable images in young people.
- Explains that television images and adolescents' body image disturbance are discussed in the journal of communication.
- Cites dworkin, niquie, and roberts, donald f., "adolescents and the mass media: from ‘leave it to beaver’ to ‘beverly hills 90210’."
2949 wordsRead More - The Role Of Media On Body Dissatisfactionanalytical essayThe Role of Media on Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescent Girls Through the shaping of an ideal that measures thinness as a means of beauty and success, many individuals in today’s society are in discontent with their bodies. Young women are at particularly high risk for experiencing feelings body dissatisfaction because of the contributions of sex-role expectations and the various portrayals depicted by the media. As described by Tompson and Stice (2001) (as cited in Clark & Tiggemann, 2007), because many women cannot meet the unrealistic societal standard of a perfectly toned and slender figure, many feel a discrepancy between their actual and ideal self, causing a body dissatisfaction. Negative views about one’s body increase the risk of
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the role of media on the development of body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls.
- Analyzes grabe et al.'s meta-analysis to understand the complex relationship between media exposure, feelings of dissatisfaction, and its influence on the development of eating disorders.
- Explains the link between media exposure and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls.
- Analyzes how rodgers, mclean, and paxton examined the longitudinal effects of media and social appearance influences on the level of body dissatisfaction experienced by grade school females.
- Opines that research has explored the specific role of different cultural influences, namely peer and media impacts, as evidence for the strong impact of sociocultural influences on a child's body image.
- Opines that understanding the underlying causes of discontent could help create a better environment to promote body satisfaction and decrease the risk of distorted thinking and unhealthy behaviors.
1091 wordsRead More - The Influence of Media on Our Body Imageanalytical essayChoice of Topic: Influence of media on our body image Background: Media influence the way teens see themselves. TV, movies, magazines and the internet all bombard teens with unrealistic images which are air-brushed versions of models who weigh 23% less than the average woman and influence about what their bodies should look like. It even reinforces unrealistic body weights, encouraging “10% body fat for young girls but realistically 22% body fat is healthier. Nevertheless, millions of teens believe the lies and resort to unhealthy measures to try to fit themselves into that impossible mold.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how media influence the way teens see themselves. tv, movies, magazines, and the internet all bombard teens with unrealistic images which are air-brushed versions of models who weigh 23% less than the average woman.
- Explains that the brain is the most adaptive organ in the body. its main job is to "fit" the environmental stimuli presented to it.
- Opines that when healthy lifestyle doesn't show any results and yet the desire (obsessive thinking) for perfect body cause teenagers to resort to extreme measures.
- Explains that adolescents become self-conscious of every blemish or extra pound. they begin to care a lot about how others view them.
- Explains that it can be done with a small group of people preparing the materials and facts.
- Analyzes how shrek's "ugly" princess is green, overweight, and more masculine, while the "beautiful" princess is thin and extremely feminine influences kids at an early age that fat is bad and thin is good. cosmetic surgery patients' use of celebrity-influenced shorthand to describe their desired physical attribute
566 wordsRead More - Media Effects On Anorexia Nervosaanalytical essayAlmost everywhere a person looks, they are bombarded with pictures and advertisements. Whether one is simply glancing at a magazine while waiting in line at a store, or just watching commercials on television, advertisements can be seen everywhere. It is quite evident, by looking at the thin waisted and skinny pictures of young women, what the media considers to be the ideal body figure. The perception of the ideal body type that society has produced, plays a huge role in our country’s obsession with thinness and appearance. The United States’ obsessions exhibiting slim, thin models as beautiful, gives a distorted impression leaving many young women the wrong idea about beauty and body image.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the media portrays thin, skinny models as beautiful, causing anorexia nervosa, which has become more common among women.
- Explains that anorexia nervosa is characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, distortion of body image, and intense fear of weight.
- Explains that the first attempts at classifying anorexia nervosa as a more formal disorder were made by french physician sir william gull and psychiatrist charles lasegue in the late eighteen hundreds.
- Explains that airbrushing is a technique used by the media to enhance body parts to produce an ideal body image. the media's focus on one body type makes it nearly impossible for anyone to obtain the ideal figure.
1047 wordsRead More