Female Body Image In Media

Mass media is designed to reach large audiences through the use of technology. Its purpose is

meant to give information we need to function as a society. Mass media is everywhere; there is no

escaping from it. From the moment you wake until you fall asleep you are confronted with media. Almost

every home in America has at least one TV, the internet, and cell phones. You cannot drive down the

highway without seeing billboard signs. Checking out at the grocery store can be tricky if trying to avoid

magazines. The media is supposed to portray what is considered to be normal; therefore, affects what

society considers normal. The media's portrayal of body image affects teens negatively through using

stereotypes, encouraging sexual behavior, and promoting unnecessary products. Teens are very

impressionable^ during the difficult and already confusing part of their development. Thus what the media

tells them is "normal" affects them more so than adults.

The media uses stereotypes to portray what a "normal" body should look like. Women are often

shown unrealistically thin and men with muscles larger than life. The idea that these unrealistic bodies are

normal and healthy can be quite damaging to a teens self image. In 2003, Teen Magazine reported that 35

percent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 percent of normal weight

girls believe they are overweight. Boys also feel pressured into weight training and using steroids to

achieve that perfect body. Weight is not the only subject the media uses. If your weight is fine, they tell

you that you are ageing, and are in need of beauty products to achieve the ideal look. Teen dramas use the

stereotype that the popular kids are beautiful, s...

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...ow that parents care about them and what they do. Second, parents need

to establish a good line of communication between themselves and their teens. Teens need to know that

they can talk to their parents about anything. We also need to talk to our teens about the realistic body

inuge and sex. If we don't the media certainly will. Lastly, parents need to monitor their teen ; media use

and exposure. If parents are aware of what their teens are exposed to, they can better communicate what is

appropriate; therefore, directly counteracting the media's negative portrayal of body image.

Works Cited

Bourland, Korrie. "Female Body Images in the Media."

http://www6.svsu.edu/~glt/Magazine/Bourland.html 08 Dec. 2004. Web. 23 Feb. 2010

Ransohoff, Julia. "Preteens and the Media."

http://www.pamf.sutterhealth.org/preteen/growingup/choices/media.html 2009. Web. 23 Feb. 2010