Media's Effect on Negative Body Image

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“People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder,” according to Salma Hayek. Society should have a positive outlook on body image, rather than face a disorder that can change one’s whole life. Negative body image can result from the media, with photoshop and editing, celebrity fad diets, and society’s look at the perfect image. Negative body image can lead to dangerous eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia. It can also take a risk to unhealthy habits, such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs. It is important to stress the effects of body image, because the world still struggles with this today. Society should not be affected by media, disorders, and pressure by making unhealthy choices and having a negative outlook on body image. Media holds a horrible outlook for society wanting people to have “The Perfect Image.” Models are photoshopped and edited in magazines to look flawless (Jean Kilbourne). Media uses a “digital diet;” where editors shave the sides of models, making their shape right (Jean Kilbourne). Once the magazine is published, it will not be the same person that took the photo, it will be someone flawless. The look that’s designed as “the Barbie image”. Not only does media pick apart models, but also actors. Actors are made to “fit the role or part” (Jean Kilbourne). Whether one is blonde, brunette, tall, short, thin, or big; it depends on the role they play. Sometimes directors focus on only the image of a person and not the acting, but there are times a director looks at acting instead of image. When a director looks at acting, Hollywood picks apart the person to fit the role of the character. This can make ... ... middle of paper ... ...ember 2006: 9-13. Print. 01 April 2014. Fertman, Sandy. “I Had Bulimia.” January 1997: 36-42. Print. 01 April 2014. Human Services. “Body Image.” Women’s Health. 22 September 2009. Web. 31 March 2014. Jeffreys, Sheila. “Plastic Surgery Victimizes Women.” August 2005: 76-82. Print. 01 April 2014. Kilbourne, Jean. “The Media Lies.” 2005. Web. 31 March 2014. Kowalski, Katherine. “A Healthy Lifestyle Can Improve Your Body Image.” December 2000: 105-111. Print. 04 April 2014. Lippert, Barbara. “The Media Are Embracing More Diverse Body Types.” 11 December 2006: 36-42. Print. 01 April 2014. Lyness, D’Arcy. “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” May 2013. Web. 02 April 2014. Mehta, Julie. “Positive Body Image Comes From Within.” January 2005: 83-88. Print. 02 April 2014. Wells-Moran, Jolyn. “Teen Suicide Attempts Linked to Body Weight and Body Image.” 29 May 2009. Web. 02 April 2014.

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