Toxicity in the Media, a Measure of Body Dissatisfaction

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Toxic “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind,” (“Media Quotes”). The average American views between 2,000 and 5,000 advertisements in the media every day. These advertisements appear everywhere. The media controls the mind of society. What the media wants people to see, they ensure that topic is shoved into people’s faces. From the way the media has been presenting itself in recent years and throughout history, a toxic environment has gripped society. A toxic environment caused by the media has destroyed society’s views on body image, causing harmful effects, especially those from body dissatisfaction. The media is responsible for poor body image and body dissatisfaction with its unrealistic portrayal and expectations on society. This can lead to damaging effects, both physically and psychologically; like marred body image, eating disorders, self-injury, and depression. “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind” (“Media Quotes”). The mind of society is being controlled by the toxic environment the media has established. The minds of humanity are being poisoned by these artificial values in the media, creating disastrous results. To start, even though the media plays a role in poor body image, there are some who actually do believe the media not to be a contributing factor in poisoned body image. For example, a study was conducted that analyzed the body image of very young children. From this study, it was discovered that external elements influenced a child’s desire for thinness, none of those being the media. It was found that the children witnessed their mother’s dieting attempts and interpreted how she would lose weight through a combination of diet and exercise. Upon witnessing the role model of their mo... ... middle of paper ... ... N, Richards, PS, Granley, HM, Stein, DM. “The impact of exposure to the thin-ideal media image on women.” NCBI. PMC, 2009. Web. 20 March 2014. Hays, Danica G., Craigen, Laurie M., Knight, Jasmine, Healey, Amanda, Sikes, April. “Duty to Warn and Protect Against Self-Destructive Behaviors and Interpersonal Violence.” Web. ERIC Database. Web. 27 February 2014. “Media Quotes.” BrainyQuote. Brainy Quote, 2014. Web. 16 March 2014. “The Media Lies.” Our Bodies Ourselves. Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, Inc., 2011. Web. 21 February 2014. Nestel, Paige. “America’s Distorted Body Image.” Unbound. Web. 20 March 2014. Russell-Mayhew, Shelly, Saraceni, Reana. "Images and Ideals: Counselling Women and Girls in a "Thin-is-in" Culture." Canadian Journal of Counselling/Revue canadienne de counseling. Volume 41.2 (2007): 91-103. Web. ERIC Database. Web. 27 February 2014.

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