Informative Speech On Body Image

1. Attention getter: Have you ever wanted to look like this? (Reference visual 1 and 2) or would you prefer to look like this? (Reference visual 3)

2. Reveal Topic: At some point or another most of us have wanted to change something about our appearance in order to become more attractive. Even those of us who are happy with our appearance are affected by the idea that there is an ideal body image for both men and women in our society.

3. Ethos: Through extensive research and my own personal work experience as a merchant for a women’s apparel Brand, I’m going to talk to you about the effects Mass Media can have on a healthy body image.

4. Preview of Main Points: After explaining what body image is and why it’s important I’m going show you how Mass Media has

impacted our perception of what health and beauty are and I’m also going to provide you with examples of what Mass media does to influence our perceptions.

Transition: Let’s begin with defining body image and why it’s importance.

Body

I. Body Image

A.

In The Journal of Health Psychology, Health Psychologist Sarah Grogan explains, “Body image relates to a person’s perceptions, feelings and thoughts about his or her body and is usually conceptualized by incorporating a persons estimate of their, size, body shape and overall attractiveness. (Grogan, 2014)”

B. So why is body image important? We all have ideas about how we look and these ideas are critical in how we value our own self worth and how we treat ourselves.

C. According to an article written by Brown University’s health department titled “Body Image,” “People with a negative body image tend to feel shameful, awkward and anxious about their bodies. They feel their size or shape is a sign of personal failure and there is a feeling of inadequacy when they compare themselves to others, which they tend to do more frequently then those with a positive body image.” (brownuniversity.com 2015)

D. If a person has a positive image of themself, he or she will more likely be proud and accepting of his or her personal appearance as it is, rather than striving to change it to be something different. There is an understanding your physical appearance says very little about your character and value as a

person.
E. Brown University also found “Poor body image has been linked to diminished mental performance, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, dieting and eating disorders.” (brownuniversity.com 2015)

Transition: Now that you understand what body image is and why it’s important let’s discuss Mass Media’s influence on body image.

II. Mass Media (reference visual 4)

A. There is a term called the thin ideal, the thin ideal is the idea that we should all have slender body shapes with a small waist and very little body fat.
B. There are many influences that convey this thin ideal, peers, family, coworkers and even healthcare professionals
C. According to the Department of Psychology at Kenyon College in Ohio, “the loudest and most aggressive purveyors of images and narratives of ideal slender beauty are the mass media.” (Levine. 2015)
D. Mass Media refers to film, billboards, television, magazine and other varieties of technologies. It’s these outlets that help shape the thin ideal.
E. Statistics
• A national eating disorder association has found that the body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females. (Just Say YES. 2015)
• 80% of women who answered a People magazine survey responded that images of women on television and in the movies make them feel insecure. (Just Say YES. 2015)
• Australian Psychological Society claims western men’s body dissatisfaction has tripled in the last 25 years from 15% to 45% (Gregor. 2004)
• In July 2012’s issue of Fashionista, an anonymous photo editor in the fashion industry stated 100% of photos are significantly altered. (Phelan. 2012)
F. The following video demonstrates how media distorts body image. (reference visual 5)
G. Watching this video we could see significant changes

Conclusion

This is what the media does everyday they are portraying images of men and women that don’t exist. People everywhere are seeing media image like this and holding themselves to this unrealistic standard. Its clear mass media is affecting this thin ideal and from here I think its safe to conclude mass media has a negative effect on a healthy body image.