An Essay On Body Image

1438 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social media's effect on body image

The concept of body image is one of the most underlying themes in personal satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Body image as described by Nio, is “a person’s unique perception of his/her body. It’s how we perceive ourselves, how we think, we appear to others, how we feel about our look from ‘our own internal view’” (3). Humans are constantly making themselves aware of the image their body portrays. The problem has become that instead of being comfortable with the body they are given, there seems to always be a yearning for what others have. A number of these problems can be attributed to the ever-growing industry of media, and in this century even more so focusing on social media that has a purpose of strengthening external validity. The United …show more content…

Self- Efficacy as defined in "Teens’ Social Media Use and Collective Action”, is one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. Self-Efficacy plays a role in how one approaches goals, tasks, and challenges (ix). Collective self-esteem, is “an individual’s self-concept derived from his/her ‘knowledge of membership’ in a social group together with the value and emotional significance attached to that membership” (Seo et al. 885). Self-Esteem is an important psychological need of human beings. These are internal factors that affect how people view their external factors, and can affect how people modify their personal behaviors (Nio, …show more content…

“Beautiful” women and even “attractive” men are portrayed as swimsuit models and body builders, and pageant girls. These expectations are often unattainable, unrealistic images that the media presents as overly-thin, glamourized, sexualized portrayals of women (Reed, 9). The reality is that media is distorting the ideal image of beauty, and has been doing so for generations. These problems result in young adults, women in particular to have issues with self esteem and social efficacy. All things considered, with the recent obsession with body images, media had added extra stress. Many people in today’s society use this media as external validity, when in actuality when they don’t get the results they desire it ends with a lower self-esteem and a lack of self- efficacy. These standards are unrealistic and todays generation is having a challenging time realizing that

Show More
Related

  • Media and Body Image

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    We hear sayings everyday such as “Looks don’t matter; beauty is only skin-deep”, yet we live in a decade that contradicts this very notion. If looks don’t matter, then why are so many women harming themselves because they are not satisfied with how they look? If looks don’t matter, then why is the media using airbrushing to hide any flaws that one has? This is because with the media establishing unattainable standards for body perfection, American Women have taken drastic measures to live up to these impractical societal expectations. “The ‘body image’ construct tends to comprise a mixture of self-perceptions, ideas and feelings about one’s physical attributes. It is linked to self-esteem and to the individual’s emotional stability” (Wykes 2). As portrayed throughout all aspects of our media, whether it is through the television, Internet, or social media, we are exploited to a look that we wish we could have; a toned body, long legs, and nicely delineated six-pack abs. Our society promotes a body image that is “beautiful” and a far cry from the average woman’s size 12, not 2. The effects are overwhelming and we need to make more suitable changes as a way to help women not feel the need to live up to these unrealistic standards that have been self-imposed throughout our society.

    Read More

  • White Washed World

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beauty is often described as being in the eye of the beholder. However in modern western culture, the old adage really should be beauty is in the eye of the white makeup artist, hair stylist, photographer, photo shop editor, and advertiser. Beauty and body ideals are packaged and sold to the average American so that we can achieve vocational, financial, social, and recreational successes. Mass media and advertising has affected the way that women perceive and treat their own bodies as well as their self-concept. Women are constantly bombarded with unrealistic images and hold themselves to the impossible beauty standards. First, we will explore the role of media in the lives of women and then the biggest body image issue from a diversity stand point, media whitewashing.

    Read More

  • Reasons Why Women Develop a Negative Body Image

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dittmar, Helga. "How Do "body Perfect" Ideals in the Media Have a Negative Impact on Body Image and Behaviors? Factors and Processes Related to Self and Identity." : Sussex Research Online. N.p, 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Effects of Media on Women’s Body Image

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this age, media is more pervasive than ever, with people constantly processing some form of entertainment, advertisement or information. In each of these outlets there exists an idealized standard of beauty, statistically shown to effect the consumer’s reflection of themselves. The common portrayal of women’s bodies in the media has shown to have a negative impact on women and girls. As the audience sees these images, an expectation is made of what is normal. This norm does not correspond to the realistic average of the audience. Failing to achieve this isolates the individual, and is particularly psychologically harmful to women. Though men are also shown to also be effected negatively by low self-esteem from the media, there remains a gap as the value of appearance is seen of greater significance to women, with a booming cosmetic industry, majority of the fashion world, and the marketing of diet products and programs specifically targeting women.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Body Image

    1622 Words  | 4 Pages

    Body image, according to Webster’s dictionary is a subjective picture of one’s own physical appearance established both by self-observation and by noting the reactions of others. Body image refers to people’s judgment about their own bodies and it is molded as people compare themselves to others. Since people are exposed to numerous media images, these media images become the foundation for some of these comparisons. When people’s judgment tell them that their bodies are subpar, they can suffer from low self-esteem, can become depressed or develop mental or eating disorders.

    Read More

  • Shutting Down Body Shaming Analysis

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was pointed out in the article that not just women and girls internalize impossible standards. Men and boys do it too. Health wellness coach Kevin Bailey agreed to this statement by adding “some men feel like their ideal woman should look like that retouched model as well.” This is presenting that the problem of body shaming is not always present in the media and females, but in males as well. Moreover, Abrams suggests that we should control what we watch on tv and control our use of media. In conclusion, Allison Abrams hopes to continue the movement towards body positivity as well as discovering the real image of

    Read More

  • Media Influence on Body Image

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    The media reinforces unrealistic ideals for body image. This representation of the perfect body is constantly thrown out for audiences to see. As Jordan (2003) says, “Barbie dolls and G.I. Joe action figures, sculpted mannequins gracing storefront windows, professional models seen in fashion catalogs and health club ads – all of these suggest to everyday consumers an idealized notion of beauty and serve as models for desirable bodies” (p. 250). Some maintain that this continuous assault of impossible standards causes lowered self-esteem and eating disorders (Conley, 2011). Our culture coerces us to believe that we must follow a set of beauty and image standards in order to achieve happiness. This causes us to view models as people to emulate (Poorani, 2012). The media “does not just reflect the underlying culture that produced it but also creates desires and narratives that enter women’s…lives with causal force” (Conley, 2011, p. 101). Bissell and Rask (2010) propose that women may still believe that the media’s body image standards are ideal for them even if they recognize that these images and models have been altered or manipulated. What makes this all the more troublesome is the fact that the perfect body changes over time. For example, Marilyn ...

    Read More

  • Media's Influence on Body Image

    1544 Words  | 4 Pages

    Body image dissatisfaction is increasingly identified as an essential target for public health action ( Paxton , 2002, P. 2) Body image refers to a person’s unique perception of his or her body. It is how we perceive our selves, how we think we appear to others and how we feel about our looks from “our own internal view”. ( Nio, 2003, P3). This internal view is associated with the person’s feelings thoughts and evaluations. It can either be positive or negative. Negative body image could be associated with low self esteem. This could include low willingness to be involved in activities due to poor body image. Self-esteem is an important psychological need of human beings. It is very essential for a person to have a positive body image in order to face and overcome challenges in life. It helps to boost motivation and mental attitude.

    Read More

  • The Influence Of Body Dissatisfaction In Women And Body Image

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Body Image is generally defined as a concept that encompasses both an individual’s perception of their physical body, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs the individual experiences as a result of this perception. Body dissatisfaction which stems from a negative body image involves discontent with one's weight and shape and has become a pervasive issue in recent decades particularly amongst the female population (Tiggerman, 2004). Body dissatisfaction has been identified as a widespread phenomenon, reportedly effecting between 50 and 70% of adolescent girls (Wertheim & Paxton, 2011). Studies have shown for example that over 70% of female college students would like to lose weight or desire a thinner figure (Paxton et al., 1991). The high

    Read More

  • A Distorted Perception of Beauty: Media’s Influence on Body Image

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s society, young women are developing a distorted perception of beauty because of the affects of media: advertising, magazines, and television and movies. Almost every image in the media features a picture of a young woman who is edited almost beyond recognition. It seems that every image of a young woman is the media’s “perfect lie,” that is hardly any image is pure or untouched. This perfect lie negatively effects young women’s perception of their look, style, and body. These false images cause severe consequences in young women’s physical and emotional aspects, negatively effecting how they perceive themselves. Today’s media images in advertising and magazines give young women a false and inadequate view of self body image. Dove’s Model to Billboard Campaign Video and Time Lapse Photoshop video represent the negative effects the media has on body image all across the country. Media’s images play with young girls insecurities and make them feel like they need to look like the woman in the picture.

    Read More

  • Body Image Research Paper

    223 Words  | 1 Pages

    Have you ever felt insecure about the way your nose looks or how your face is shaped? Or even your body because you have seen celebrities such as Nicki Minaj with a "perfect body"? You’re a fool, In the real world, looks have made a huge impact on society. Celebrities have brain washed not only today's women, but also men to believe that in order for a person to look beautiful they must look like the images seen on television, movies, or models on the covers of magazines. People who are insecure about their appearances have different ways of improving the way they look, like wasting money on some dumb surgery that can cost around $4,500 – $20,000. Not only does it cost a lot of money but it can cause many health conditions.

    Read More

  • Body Image Research Paper

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    Am I not skinny enough? Do I look fat? Will boys ever like me for who I am... or will it be because I am curvy enough for them? These are the many questions that women ask themselves so they can fit into society. We ask these questions because we let other people tell us how to look or what to wear to fulfill the guidelines of looking hot and sexy. What we don’t realize is that people all around us are suffering from trying to impress other people with a body image in the most unhealthy and unsafe ways. Many women do everything in their power to create the hourglass figure that most men look for in a woman. Women and girls experience tremendous pressure to meet standards of beauty that are unrealistic, which leads to lower self-esteem. Therefore, we need to educate women that character is more important than appearance and that lots of different body types can

    Read More

  • Gender Stereotyping: The Negative Impacts Of Gender Stereotypes

    1497 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, it is evident that the media usually presents and sexualizes women who are “young, fit and beautiful” hence probably creating self esteem issues more than confidence especially in younger women who are religious towards the media’s expectations. This stereotype of being a desired body shape only forces women to meet unattainable perfect physical standards (Gill 2015). The media bombards the youth with gender representations and the types of bodies that are deemed to be attractive. Many teenagers all around the world are desperate to lose weight to be “beautiful”.

    Read More

  • Beauty Essay

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    The concept of “beauty” is something that everyone feels, thinks, or wants, in order to fit society’s standards. In today’s society, we are often faced with the unrealistic ideals of what beauty is. Due to society’s constant portraying of unrealistic beauty ideals, this reinforces a negative influence upon women’s idea of beauty, resulting in a negative impact in their confidence, and self-esteem, which leads to others, specifically women to be manipulated by society’s corrupted outlook of what beauty is. To add onto this issue, we are constantly surrounded by sources of this negative influence in our everyday lives, including magazines, television, advertisements, and so on. However, women specifically, are more prone to be victims of this negative effect, thus will have more pressure upon themselves to match society’s idea of “beauty,” which includes unrealistic and sometimes unattainable beauty standards. Women especially, can sometimes be so deeply manipulated by society’s unrealistic ideals of what is beautiful, such that it’s possible that they don’t even realize it Furthermore, in order to do so, women often will receive negative impacts rather than positive impacts, such as in their confidence and self-esteem. The negative effects of society’s beauty ideals also lead women to have an overall corrupted idea of what is “beautiful.” Society creates unrealistic ideals of beauty towards women through the media by creating an unrealistic image of what women should look like to be considered beautiful. Men negatively affect women’s idea of beauty by using the unrealistic beauty standards exposed by society which further pressures women to try to fit society’s idea of what is beautiful. Beauty pageants negatively affect women’s ov...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Body Image

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    Body image is the mental image of one 's own body. Body image is very important because the majority of people think about their appearance and how they look all day long. Many people today have a very poor body image. The causes of poor body image include: body size, bullying, media, low self-esteem, depression, and even gender. Body image also has some very unhealthy effects on men and women. Body image in our world today is at an all-time low, but there are many ways to help improve it. The most important ways are to focus on the good and positive talents he or she has and to not compare his or her body to another individual’s body.

    Read More

More about An Essay On Body Image

Open Document