Recently, a lot of controversy has been in the news about the increase in negative body image among women. This negative body image can lead to a number of different problems in individuals including low self-esteem, eating disorders, and depression. Some factors that can influence this increase in negative body image include age, gender peer influence, and family influence. One of the main factors that has been an influence on the way people view themselves is the media. According to Aubrey (2006), “a primary way that an objectifying culture is propagated is through the media” (p. 159). Everything from magazines, television, and celebrities can have an affect on the way people view themselves. The population that is most affected by this problem in our society is young women. Social comparison, which is when someone compares their own body to other’s bodies, is a common factor for thin-ideal internalization and dissatisfaction of their body (Bessenoff, 2006, p. 239). Literature review Although body dissatisfaction is most popular in young women, the age of onset is much younger. Cusumano and Thompson’s research (as cited in Dohnt & Tiggemann, p. 141) suggests that the age of onset is preadolescent girls (ages 8-11) where young girls start to feel body dissatisfaction and the idea of being thinner. In a study done to research body image in girls as young as 5-8 years old, it was found that concerns about bodies start at that young age (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006, p. 148). Because the desire to be thin starts at such a young age, it usually gets worse as girls get older. The more that they are exposed to the media as they get older has a lot to do with it. In another study, it was found that regardless of the media type,... ... middle of paper ... ...5.00107.x Dohnt, H. K., & Tiggemann, M. (2006). Body image concerns in young girls: The role of peers and media prior to adolescence. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 35(2), 135-145. doi:10.1007/s10964-005-9020-7 Krahé, B., & Krause, C. (2010). Presenting thin media models affects women's choice of diet or normal snacks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 349-355. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01580.x Ridolfi, D., Myers, T., Crowther, J., & Ciesla, J. (2011). Do appearance focused cognitive distortions moderate the relationship between social comparisons to peers and media images and body image disturbance? Sex Roles, 65(7), 491-505. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9961-0 Tiggemann, M., & Polivy, J. (2010). Upward and downward: Social comparison processing of thin idealized media images. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 356-364. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01581.x
The Effects of Media on the Body-Image of Preadolescent Girls. Media is infamous for having a tremendous effect on teenage girls. The mass media have long been criticized for presenting unrealistic appearance ideals that contribute to the development of negative body image for many women and girls (Harrison & Hefner, 2006). Whether it’s the influence on their choice of friends, school, or their self-image, media has played an important role in affecting those decisions. A growing number of experimental studies have demonstrated a causal link between acute exposure to "thin-ideal" images (i.e., images of impossibly thin and attractive female beauty) and increased body dissatisfaction (Hargreaves & Tiggemann, 2003).
In recent years, sociologists, psychologists, and medical experts have gone to great lengths about the growing problem of body image. This literature review examines the sociological impact of media-induced body image on women, specifically women under the age of 18. Although most individuals make light of the ideal body image most will agree that today’s pop-culture is inherently hurting the youth by representing false images and unhealthy habits. The paper compares the media-induced ideal body image with significant role models of today’s youth and the surrounding historical icons of pop-culture while exploring various sociological perspectives surrounding this issue.
Yamamiya, Y., Cash, T. F., Melnyk, S. E., Posavac, H. D., & Posavac, S. S. (2005). Women's exposure to thin-and-beautiful media images: Body image effects of media-ideal internalization and impact-reduction interventions. Body image, 2(1), 74-80.
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.
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.
Finally, we need to understand that the review might not be everything related to the relationships between mass media and females’ perceptions of body image. In particular, most studies that were featured in this literature review were conducted not from a local context but it will be able to aid us in the formulation of our survey questions for our specific sample group of a particular population.
Groesz, L., Levine, M., & Murnen, S. (2001). The effect of experimental presentation of thin media images on body satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis review. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 1-16.
Every culture around the globe stresses specific ideals for body image. In the United States and many other countries, the media plays a big role in how we view ourselves- it shows us what is "good" and what is "bad." In many ways our society infiltrates our concept of ideal body image by setting unrealistic expectations for both genders. At an early age we are instructed to pay special attention to our appearance. A...
The sociocultural approach to the issue of body image among women states that women receive harmful and negative cultural messages about their bodies. These messages can come from the media as well as from family and peer influences (Swami, 2015). By promoting the thin ideal for attractiveness, the media contributes to women rating their bodies more negatively and thus increases their likelihood of developing eating disorder symptoms (Spitzer, Henderson & Zivian, 1999). In a meta-analysis studying the effects of media images on female body image, Groesz and Levine (2002) found that women’s body image was significantly more negative after viewing thin media images than after viewing average or plus size models. Harmful body messages from family can be direct, such as verbal criticism or teasing, or in...
Previous research has shown, that women, in particular young girls, are highly likely to compare themselves and their body image with their peers. There is, however, yet to be studies shown that prove the correlation between peer interactions that influence body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction can lead to dangerous eating habits, such as anorexia, bulimia and extreme dieting. Relationships between family, friends and fellow classmates are pertinent throughout adolescence as it is those surrounding the young female that have a great influence over her. Research compelling to the topic has focused on these particular factors, such as peer and parental influence but has not yet received the amount of exposure and attention.
“ The media needs to take responsibility for the effect it has on our younger generation.... why aren’t we regulating things like calling people fat”(Lawrence). The actress Jennifer Lawrence expressed her opinion in what she believes that the media is responsible for the damaging body image that has affected the younger generation into believing this image is ideal. Considering this quote, recently there have been more .The negative body image in female adolescents has been affected by the influence of impossible body types in the media such as the doll “Barbie” and characters in popular children shows.
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
The media’s unattainable standards have created a generation of females that are dissatisfied with their bodies at a young age. According to an article on WebMD about body image, the average teen girl gets about 180 minutes of media exposure daily and that females who reported greater exposure to television programming were more likely
Research in psychology today seems to be drawn towards particular fields of interest especially when it comes to understanding human behavior. One of the most common research topics for social psychology is body image and the perceptions that are related to age groups, genders, and ethnicities. Young people today are pressured by society to make physical appearance a dominant factor in their everyday lives, and the pressure is found not only through media influence but friends and family as well (Pavica, 2010). These pressures can affect many different aspects of a person’s life and significantly influence their actions. The aspects affected by body image can include popularity among peers, social comfort, and the attitudes an individual comes to commit to behavior (Lewis & Rosenblum, 1999).
Body image in both male and female adolescents is a critical issue during the cognitive development of adolescents. Body image refers to how a person sees their body, especially in comparison to others. Society plays an impactful influence on adolescents body image. For instance, women are portrayed in society as needing to be a size zero and be skinny. Women who are thinner make an average of $15,000 more each year, in comparison to obese women. Although, men’s salary does not differentiate between their physical stature. Society also portrays men to be lean and muscular. Society’s interpretation of both genders is unrealistic. Every person’s body type differs. Instead of wanting to be thin or muscular, adolescents should focus on