“The mass audience doesn't want to see you if you aren't perfect. If you don't look a certain way, if you don't have big pecs and great skin and the perfect eyes. And it's unfortunate, because kids are growing up with body image dysmorphia because not everyone is represented on the screen” (Chris Pine). The media brings us many good things like news and the latest trends in fashion, but it also can have negative effects on us. Such as how it makes us view ourselves. How can the pressure of body image from the media be eliminated? Problems The use of edited photos in magazines and social media of many kinds, has many negative effects on those viewing and how they view their own bodies. The beginning age of when people start to feel bad about …show more content…
their bodies is dropping and children are now starting to become unhappy with their bodies. It is beginning to be seen that children as young as eight are dissatisfied with their bodies and how they look. In the UK there was a huge study on eating disorders in adolescents, when the results came back they were shocked to find that so many of these children were unhappy with their bodies at such a young age. The disatisfaction that one has with their body only grows as they get older. It was also found that girls who are not overweight can develop an eating disorder simply because of low self-esteem. Whereas, in boys it is found that they usually only develop eating disorders when they are overweight (Boseley, 2015). Young children are being exposed to the unrealistic body standards that society brings today and it is corrupting them to believe that they should be just like that. Which is simply impossible but because of the fact that those above them are also striving to achieve the “perfect body” it is hard for them to believe that they have already got one and they just need to remain healthy and focus on those in their lives who support them. In the case study of “Adolescent eating disorder behaviours and cognitions: gender-specific effects of child, maternal and family risk factors” (N. Micali, B. De Stavola, G. Ploubidis, E. Simonoff, J. Treasure, and A. E. Field, 2015). The difference of this study compared to others is the fact that they used children of all ages and included boys in on their study. It was found in the study that eating disorders peak from the ages of 15-19, when children’s self esteem is easily brought down. The data of the study showed that girls were significantly less satisfied with their bodies than boys. More girls engaged in the behaviors of: dieting, bingeing, and purging, but there were still a significant number of boys engaging in the activities as well. When this study was compared with the smaller one done in the United States, the results were found to be closely related in that the numbers were all relatively close. This study was able to bring to light the understanding of how many children are out there that are struggling with eating disorders and are dissatisfied with their bodies at such a young age. The media is what is stimulating them to think they need to achieve the “perfect body” and look just like the people on the cover of their favorite magazine, but in reality the person on the front of that magazine does not look like that. Their photo has been manipulated to make them more appealing to the people reading and buying the magazine. It is not just children that are affected when it comes to self-image and the media. People of all ages are affected by the photos in magazines and they are then led to doubt their own bodies.
In this generation, filled with technology, we are surrounded by the media and are constantly seeing commercials for weight loss and billboards covered with extremely fit people that have the bodies we wish we could obtain. We see images in the media all the time and do not even realize the affect that they are having on us. When watching television,about 30% of what you are watching is advertisements that are slowly stimulating your mind. “The media and body image are closely related due to the number of images we see in the media and the excessive amount of exposure we have to those images” (The media and body image, 2015). When people view advertisements they do not think of the effect that it is having on them, it may be small but it can grow as more and more are viewed. Advertisements lead us to believe that we need to be like that, so when a magazine has photo shoot of a woman with a perfect body getting a tan on the beach we strive to be like that. We do know that that body is not achievable but want it so badly we will do whatever the magazine tells us. Photoshopping is also a dangerous thing when it come to body
image. The photoshopping used in photo shoots is harmful when used to the extreme. A little retouching here and there may be alright but having a full on make over in the photoshop booth is causing body image issues throughout the world. Some celebrities have even taken a stand on photoshop, by choosing photographers that do not use it. Celebrities have slowly started to begin to refuse to be photoshopped. An example being Kate Winslet, who took action when she found that images of her had been altered for GQ Magazine. Another celebrity that has taken a stand against photoshop recently is Brad Pitt. He was to be featured on the W Magazine cover and had personally chosen the photographer for it. He chose Chuck Close because he was known for his ability to expose skin flaws. “While most people dream of magically removing their pounds and wrinkles -- and some celebs demand it -- more and more are seeing Photoshop as dangerous terrain” (Diller, 2015). As more and more celebrities will come out and say that they do not like being photoshopped the media will begin to change, but because some of them have body image issues themselves they may want to be photoshopped on the cover of a popular magazine to help with their own self esteem. Solutions There are some things that are already being done in the media to help reduce the use of photoshop, thus leading to a more realistic body to live up to. There have been multiple people and businesses that have taken a stand against image altering and retouching. For example the American Medical Association has recently created a new policy that causes advertisement agencies to work with organizations that have guidelines for what can be used in advertisements that are geared towards adolescents. The guidelines include discouragement of altercations and promoting unrealistic body types. These guidelines were put in place because when photos are altered, they can create unrealistic expectations of what people’s bodies should look like (Arnold, 2011). When people take a stand on using photoshop in the media by saying that they are against it, it has a huge impact on society. Simply because after the first person has spoken out it is easier for others to voice their opinions as well
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.
Body Dysmorphia is a mental illness in which you can’t stop thinking about the flaws in your appearance. According to a health video the body dysmorphia preoccupation could be either minor or non-existence at all but still be considered body dysmorphia.. When a person has body Dysmorphia they are constantly obsessed over there appearance or body image. The flaws could cause you significant distress and impacts the ability to function your daily life. People with body Dysmorphia try could try many cosmetic procedures, but will never be satisfied.
In every magazine and on every page there is another source of depression, another reason to skip a meal or two or a reason to be self-conscious. In present society people are overly focused and determined on the perfect body that both the fashion and advertising industry portray and promote. Through diction, pictures and celebrities presented they are trying to convey a message to their viewers that is “suppose” to be used as a source of motivation and determination. The message they are truly conveying is self-conscious thoughts, depression, and the promotion of eating disorders. It is estimated that millions of people struggle with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem; concentrated on dissatisfaction with their body image (Ballaro). The advertisement and fashion industry are conveying a message that creates an internal battle for their viewers, though they should be creating a fire in their viewers that provides motivation to be healthier, take better care of themselves and a source of inspiration for style.
From the moment we wake up in the morning media is at our finger tips. As our day goes on we cannot escape all the visual media. One image after another a person’s self-confidence is either boosted or destroyed. Through the use of Photoshop a picture can be altered to get the perfect figure, skin, and hair, but when is the line drawn, when has it gone too far. Hailey Magee takes a stand when it comes to the ethics behind Photoshop in the world of beauty, “In this “Ethical Inquiry” we explore the ethics of digitally altering photos of individuals so as to make the subjects appear “more beautiful” in alignment with cultural standards of beauty”. Shiela Reaves, Jacqueline Bush Hitchon, Sung–Yeon parks, and Gi Woong Yun agree with Hailey Magee in the discussion of photo manipulation in beauty and fashion. “This study is concerned with the moral dilemma that stems from the digital manipulation of magazine ads to render models thinner. Exposure to the “thin ideal” has been linked to such damaging psychological responses as body dissatisfaction, loss of self-esteem, and to eating disorders”. Women and men are constantly affected by exposure to models that achieve the unrealistic beauty outcome of the media. Using the theories of social comparison and cultivation/ media literacy we are able to explain why photo manipulation makes women take on the thin-ideal. In the media driven world photo manipulation has become an accepted practice since it increases sales and fulfils the “thin ideal”, but the emotional and physical damage it has on women is catastrophic.
As a teenager, I have witnessed the effects of media on body image almost everyday. Kids these days are so focused on social media and having the perfect body type that they can hardly even function sometimes. The media has had such a negative impact on so many young people, do we really want our generation of young people to grow up with this kind of pressure to look just right? Although there are many positive things about the media, the negative impacts it has outweigh the good.
Media contributes in a way we see our body such as in an attractive or unattractive way such as Rebecca J.Donatelle in “ Enhancing your Body Image” explains. The way we assume about our physical appearance can lead to health problems and other side effects we can come across throughout our lifestyle. For instance the body image myths that the author states in the paragraph shows some effects on how our society feels today. And the changes one can make to become better to be better therefore changing our life for the better can combat in a lifetime experience.
Before understanding the effects of body image on contemporary women, one must first comprehend the term that is body image. According to Psychology Today’s definition, “body image is the mental representation one has for themselves. It is the way one sees their physical body. However, this mental representation may or may not always be accurate.
If one does not fit this ideal, then they are considered unappealing. Unfortunately, there is nothing one can do to truly change their body image other than think happier thoughts, obtain plastic surgery, or go to the gym to make themselves feel and potentially look better. Popular media is making it extremely difficult for one to maintain a positive body image. They have created the perfect human image that is almost unattainable to reach. The idea of a teenager’s body image is being destroyed by the standards of magazines, television shows, and society as a whole, making it to where it will never recover again. To better understand the effect popular media has on one’s body image, viewing psychology, medicine and health sciences, and cultural and ethnic studies will give a better understanding on the
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In our society today, people would rather see what celebrities are up to than what is going on with our health plan. Watching the news makes us aware of the latest trend, new gadget, who’s in rehab, or who has an eating disorder. In the eyes of society, women like Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, and Megan Fox are the epitome of perfection. What girl wouldn’t want to look like them? Unfortunately, this includes most of the girls in the US. Through TV shows, commercials, magazines or any form of advertising, the media enforces a certain body type which women emulate. The media has created a puissant social system where everyone must obtain a thin waist and large breasts. As a society, we are so image obsessed with the approval of being thin and disapproval of being overweight, that it is affecting the health of most women. Women much rather try to fit the social acceptance of being thin by focusing on unrealistic body images which causes them to have lower self esteem and are more likely to fall prey to eating disorders, The media has a dangerous influence on the women’s health in the United States.
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.
Opening: Having body dysmorphic disorder is something very dangerous, and at some point, it can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, body dysmorphic disorder cannot be taken lightly, as it can affect lots of people’ lives.
Vargas, L E. (2013) The Negative Effects of The Media on Body Image. Personal.psu.edu. Retrieved 30 Nov. 17 from:
The advertising involved targets young teenage women and features models that portray desirable items, and the “norm” is for these women to be slender and beautiful (Vonderen & Kinnally, 2012). Research has been done to prove that the media’s pressure on being thin causes women to be depressive and have negative feelings about themselves. Women’s views are skewed and perceived incorrectly of what the typical female body should be (Haas, Pawlow, Pettibone & Segrist, 2012). Body image for women has always been stressed for them to look a certain way and to try to obtain “physical perfection.” But due to the pressure on women to be this certain way, it is common for the mass media to be destructive to the young, impressionable girl.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a serious disease affecting many people. Some people are unaware of having this disease, and even more know they have it and are too scared to speak up and get the treatment they need. BDD has been reported in many countries around the world, including the U.S.A, Canada, Australlia, Eastern and Western Europe, China, Japan, and South America (Phillips). Imagine you are suffering from BDD. Everytime you look in the mirror, see your friends, when you are getting ready, when you see your friends, or when you see someone on television or in a magazine, you compare yourself and think about how ugly you are. This is not just thinking you look bad, or you wish you had a better face, or smaller eyes, this is a serious
What is body shaming? Body shaming is defined as negative statements and attitudes towards one’s shape or size that are made about yourself or towards another, based on perceived body imperfections. Body shaming occurs within all cultures, sizes, races, and genders but is established most amongst women. So often it starts with ourselves and stems from personal insecurities. If one is insecure about their size and physique, they'll feel inferior to the person they perceive to be 'perfect'. This is where the problem occurs, because what is ‘perfect’? When we are ashamed of our body personally, or by others, there often are traumatic, long-term consequences and vicious cycles of judgment and criticism. Societies standards through media, bullying to the point of eating disorders, and today’s obesity rates are all main causes