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The effect of media on a woman's self image
The effect of media on women's self image
The effect of media on women's self image
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Rationale Today’s culture has placed women across the globe in a position where they are constantly flooded with idealistic images that depict what the media perceives as the “perfect body.” Quite often, young university-attending females, those who are involved in social identity formation, are exposed to numerous forms of media that fabricate various experiences relative to body image. In the past, researchers have surveyed women who are exposed to body-related standards using multiple forms of mass media as a unified entity, which has caused for limitations since each means -such as magazine advertisements- differs in relation to how a thin idealistic image is portrayed. In light of prior research, Harper and Tiggman established that about 94% of North American women magazines implemented images of thin-idealized models on the cover; this lack of diversity exhibited the media’s support for slenderness as a norm for women (Harper & Tiggemann, 2009). Similarily, Murnen et al. not only uncovered that magazines were the most popular amongst females and was strongly associated with body discontent as compared to other mass media, but also that women often compared themselves to those seen in the images (Bell & Dittmar, 2011). Despite these numerous studies, the mechanism behind if and how women are affected negatively by such imagery is still unclear (Ferreday, 2011). This report’s research question resolves to uncover any parallels and causal impacts that may exist between university-aged females’ body perception and short-term exposure to idealistic body-related images within beauty related magazine ads. Based on the stated preceding studies, it is easy to hypothesize that female students may exhibit meager body images. However, i... ... middle of paper ... ...h-Westerwick, S., & Crane, J. (2012). A losing battle: Effects of prolonged exposure to thin-ideal images on dieting and body satisfaction. Communication Research, 39(1), 79-102. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/socabs/docview/1023025691/550D920C734A43DCPQ/46?accountid=14771 Swami, V., Salem, N., Furnham, A., & Tovee, M. (2008). Initial examination of the validity and reliability of the female photographic figure rating scale for body image assessment. Retrieved from http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/m.j.tovee/Swami-FigScale-PAID-2008.pdf Youjeong, K., Sundar, S. (2012). Visualizing Ideal Self Vs. Actual Self through Avatars: Impact on Preventive Health Outcomes. Computers in Human Behavior, 1356-64. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/socabs/docview/1081866987/850FD416379B4842PQ/2?accountid=14771
Why is this topic of utmost importance? Undeniably, the media now has become an essential tool for everyone in this era, be it for information and social networking (Shakeel). However, it has also become a platform for people to look up to – for both the good and bad reasons. Generally, most females look to the media as an example for an “ideal” body image. If so, what are the impacts? To what extent does mass media contribute to negative perceptions of body image by females? Does the amount of time spent using the mass media contribute to females’ perception of their body image? What factors influence why some females are affected by the images of the media and some aren’t? This literatu...
The media has had an increasingly destructive effect on young people who are becoming worryingly obsessed with their body image. The media is saturated in sexual imagery in which young people have to face every day. The sheer volume of sexual imagery in the media today has resulted in the vast majority of young people to become hooked on looking as near to perfection everyday by using the latest products and buying the latest fashions. This used to be enough but lately the next step to achieving perfection is cosmetic surgery. Everyone wants to look attractive, especially teenagers who are not only put under massive strain to succeed but to look beautiful and climb the ranks of the social ladder, and it seems that the only way to achieve the much desired beauty is to turn to drastic measures.
Mass media is designed to reach large audiences through the use of technology. Its purpose is
Groesz, L. M., Levine, M. P. and Murnen, S. K.. (2001).The Effect of Experimental Presentation of Thin Media Images on Body Satisfaction: A Meta-Analytic Review. Department of Psychology
Advertisers use women that are abnormally thin, and even airbrush them to make them appear thinner. These advertisers promote a body image that is completely unrealistic and impossible to achieve (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006b). It has been instilled in these advertisers’ minds that a thinner model will sell more (Hargreaves & Tiggemann, 2003). Media has a direc...
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.
It is plain to see that mass media has an impact upon the body image of females today. We are living in a world where the mass media play a predominant role in our daily lives and regardless of what we do, we are subconsciously being influenced by what they show us. Through the mass media’s portrayal of unrealistic images of women in general, we as consumers absorb these distorted concepts of beauty, and mould ourselves with accordance to what they see on these media.
Serdar, Kasey L. "Female Body Image and the Mass Media: Perspectives on How Women Internalize the Ideal Beauty Standard." Westminster College. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
Brit, Harper, and Marika Tiggemann. "The Effect of Thin Ideal Media Images on Women's Self-Objectification, Mood,and Body Image." Sex Roles 58.9/10 (2008): 649-657. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
Kimberly Bissell suggests that the media is one of the numerous probable factors that is related to the increase of eating disorders in females. In this study, the DOVE Campaign for Real Beauty used an image of a model and three manipulated images of the same model to test the participant’s evaluations of the model. Then, they examined the participants’ level of self-inconsistency and societal views of thinness to assess if the campaign was adequate in influencing the way women see beauty in themselves and in others. The goal of the study was to evaluate women’s views about beauty standards by utilizing a few variables: exposure to thin-ideal models, social correlation
To begin with, one way the media influences both men and women body images in a negative way is that it can lead people to have doubt in their appearance. In today's world many people, even children, begin to feel ashamed of their appearance because of the media showing a certain type of body image that is considered "perfect". From early times the media has influenced everyone that there are body types for both men and women that are considered to be perfect (Fast Facts, Teen Health). For example, in one situation elementary students were asked if they were satisfied with their appearance, and the students replied by saying that after they watch music videos of celebrities, such as Britney Spears, they felt self-conscious about their appearance
Body image in American culture has become an issue of weight watching, an increase in the beginning of eating disorders, and an increase in the reading of diet articles which
The media continuously sets unrealistic standards for what women’s body size is “normal” and what appearance is considered “beautiful”. If turn on the television or flip through any women’s beauty magazine, you will see collarbones, hipbones and ribcages as the trend in Hollywood right now. The majority of celebrities and models are seen sporting thin, athletic bodies and dressed in designer clothing with gorgeous men around them. Many young girls admire these celebrities as they are seen throughout the media, and therefore are taught that the model of success consists of physical attractiveness and being extremely thin. Before television, film and magazines existed, women did not have these media influences telling them their value based on outward appearance. Between the 1930’s or “The Golden Age”, there were certain ideal body types, but women weren’t idolizing over celebrities or famous actresses because popular media didn’t really exist. As soon as film and television became a national phenomenon however, messages about the “ideal body image” have continued to be a prominent part of the media. Over the years, there are common messages and ideologies about unhealthy bodies that have been perpetrated through the media. For example, back in the 1950’s Marilyn Monroe had a famous quote “Cultivate your curves- they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided” (Los Angles Times, 2015). This was during a time where sex symbols such as Marilyn Monroe and Betty Page were known for their long legs and busy hour glass figures. In the 1990’s models got drastically thinner, and Kate Moss was featured in a Calvin Klein add where she famously said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”. The messages these women are send convey arbitrary beauty archetypes that are not attainable for all women. In a 2013, infographic produced by
Pop- culture has influenced body image ideals in many ways these past few years since 2000. Body image is when someone looks at his or her self in the mirror and checks out his/her body. Some people may like what they see, but the majority of people do not. Everyone has at least one flaw that they do not like; nobody is perfect. Lately, most teenagers and young adults dream of having the perfect body that they would stop eating or work out ten hours a day in order to look like the new hottest celebrity. Most Americans usually entertain themselves with television, music, social media, or magazines. In all of these entertainments, the viewer acknowledges celebrities and notices beautiful and amazingly fit bodies. In the article titled “Beauty and the Body image: The Media and its Negative Effect on Body Image” by Eve Florence Chernoff, she states, “Women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazine do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include ay least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily apparel” (Chernoff). Basically, Chernoff is saying that magazines companies encourage women to look thin, which is good, in a way, to become physically fit and healthier. Although, some magazines do promote these ads that make women to feel less than they are worth.
The emergence of the slender body type as a beauty standard for women is especially salient in the mass media, and several researchers have demonstrated how the female body depicted in the media has become increasingly thin (Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, & Thompson, 1980; Ogletree, Williams, Raffeld, Mason, & Fricke, 1990; Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, & Kelly, 1986; Wiseman, Gray, Mosimann, & Ahrens...