Media Portrayal of Female and Male Body Image

Body image is a hot topic in the media. Unrealistic and unattainable are words that can be used to describe images in the media. Skinny, waif-like women and muscular, Rambo-like men are the idolized body images portrayed. In the media female models keep getting thinner and thinner while men keep getting more muscular. Many say the media and its depictions of the ideal body weight created the problems of low self-esteem, eating disorders, poor body concepts, and sexism through spotlighting unattainable body image icons.

The pressure to be thin in Hollywood is apparent through the media. Rarely, do you see successful overweight people in the limelight. Oprah Winfrey, Rosie, and Emme are of course exceptions to the rules. Models were not always as thin as Calista Flockhart

From Marilyn Monroe to Calista Flockhart, what happened to cause this change? Why are women and now men under constant scrutiny to be the ideal body weight? Does the media and extensive television viewing cause eating disorders?

Calista Flockhart, who is 5-foot-5 and a reported 102 pounds, is a superstar under constant scrutiny for her thin body frame. She is also the lead in a popular television series, Ally McBeal. Constantly, reporters hassle her for "not having enough meat on her bones" as reported by Mr. Showbiz.com. Flockhart has denied all health rumors that she may be anorexic. She insists that she is skinny because of her high metabolism.

The rumor started when WCBS in New York reported during its 5 p.m. broadcast that production on Ally McBeal was shut down that day because the super-skinny Flockhart was seeking treatment for a possible eating disorder. It turns out the station jumped the gun. Flockhart's spokesman David Pollick replied, "By airing this untrue story of Calista Flockhart, WCBS News not only fully embraced the standards of tabloid journalism, but took them to a new low" ( Flockhart Denies 1).

Later, in July 1999, Flockhart stepped out in front of the media to put to rest the rumors of an eating disorder. She appeared on David Letterman's Late Show where she told him that she was comfortable with her weight and that she was bored with what the media was scrutinizing her for. She went on further to boldly say, "I would like to take this opportunity just to tell the press to kiss my skinny white ass"(Calista Tells 1).