Unrealistic Body Image Essay

Men and women are often concerned about their outer appearance because media portrays a certain image of what “ideal beauty” should be. If women do not have a flat stomach or toned thighs, they are told that their body is not good enough. If men do not have washboard abs, big biceps, or rock-hard pecks, they are told they are not fit enough. When women think they are too big, they develop eating disorders. When men do not think they are fit enough, they turn to steroids or body stimulants. The media’s view of “ideal beauty” is unrealistic. The broadcasting of unrealistic body standards has been linked to eating disorders among both men and women. Men and women strive for that “perfect body” no matter the risk. Media is the biggest source of

Men and women become dissatisfied with their bodies because media commercializes unrealistic bodies. When men and women see what media portrays, they look at themselves and start thinking negatively about their image. Markey and Markey states, “In addition to potentially affecting adolescents and young adults’ development of behaviors aimed at modifying or “improving” one’s attitudes regarding attractiveness, research suggests that the media may affect appearance” (Markey and Markey). Media thinks that women need to fit a certain “mold” to be beautiful. Muscular images shown by the media lead to body dissatisfaction for men. Hargreaves adds, “For men, the current ideal male body is lean but highly muscular” (Hargreaves). Media has that specific image of what beauty really is. Men and women both become dissatisfied with their bodies because media sees beauty

Women feel as if whenever they walk into a room they are instantly judged. Pressure is a big problem in women’s beauty. Women are pressured to be skinny, but not too skinny, to have big bosoms, have nice clothes, and look like Victoria’s Secret model. The media thinks that women should be the type of beautiful that they portray. Images shown in today’s media portrays an unrealistic standard of beauty that can influence many women. Images in the media portray the “ideal woman” as tall, white, and thin with blonde hair. What makes this worse is that media is filled with many of these women, Markey and Markey reports “However, experimental data suggest that when individuals compare themselves to images of idealized female beauty, girls and women feel bad about themselves and maladaptive behaviors may ensue” (Markey and Markey). Women have been found to experience dissatisfaction with physical appearance at a much higher rate than men. Body image is a major issue with women. All women want to fit into the “ideal beauty” that media