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Affect of media on people's idea of beauty/body image
Affect of media on people's idea of beauty/body image
Cosmetic surgery of teenagers
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For many years, people have been obsessed with reading magazines and admiring the beautiful models in them. However, with the invention of Photoshop, people don’t realize that what they are looking at isn’t even real. The editors of these magazines use Photoshop to manipulate the models’ bodies into what they envision as perfection. What these editors don’t realize is that girls—and even boys—across the globe look at these models, wishing that maybe one day they can look exactly like them. So, if these kids are looking up to these so-called “perfect human beings”, shouldn’t they have the right to know that what they are wishing for isn’t real? Kids, teenagers, adults—everyone—need to acknowledge the fact that they are already beautiful just the way they are, and they don’t need to go on some diet or pay money for plastic surgery to change …show more content…
The editors of all the advertisements need to be able to depict when an appropriate time to use Photoshop is necessary. For example, they should not use the “air-brushing” techniques when it comes to editing the images of the models. Too many people are affected by these Photoshopped images that they are willing to go to the extremes to be thinner; they will buy any product to help them lose weight, they will spend money on plastic surgery, or they will substantially decrease the amount of food they eat. Models are supposed to be in the advertisements to promote a certain product, but the way society sees it is that they are being promoted for a new standard of beauty. So, if the editors stop using Photoshop on the images, then maybe, society would change their perspective on the standards of beauty and there wouldn’t be any issues with anybody’s
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.
Societal constructs of bodily perfection have a massive influence on both genders and on all ages. If you look at any magazine, you will see women constantly being compared to each other, whether it is in the “who wore it better” section or in the “do’s and don’ts” part of the magazine, comparing body images and overall appearances. All parts of the media that encompasses our daily lives are especially dangerous for young and impressionable teens because they see people being torn down for trying to express themselves, and are thus taught to not only don’t look like “don’ts”, but also look like the “do’s”. This is dangerous in that women in the magazine set very high standards that teens want to emulate, no matter the cost to themselves or their health. Celebrities have the benefit of media to make them appear perfect: Photoshop and makeup artists conceal the imperfections that are often too apparent to the naked eye. Viewing celebrities as exhibiting the ideal look or as idols will, in most cases, only damage the confidence of both young teens, and adults, and warp the reality of what true “beauty” really is. It makes teens never feel truly content with themselves because they will be aiming for an ideal that is physically impossible to attain and one that doesn’t exist in the real
...ese images but it is awareness that society should be promoting. In 2009 in Europe, French Parliament member Valerie Boyer suggested that all published images that are digitally enhanced - including advertisements - come with a warning label that reads, “Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person’s physical appearance.” If they fail to do so they will be fined up to 50 percent of the cost of the publicity campaign in question. America should be creating a proactive movement that will bring teens and adults in society up to par on what is going and informing them of how they can change how they view their images. Like cigarettes, advertisements with false images should be given a warning label. Essentially, these industries should be creating an encouraging message to their viewers to provide a healthier outlook about size, beauty, and weight.
... taking a stand against Photoshop for fear of ruining the careers of actors, actresses, and models. That statement alone proves that society values physical perfection than the health and emotional well-being of people, specifically impressionable teenagers. There are girls everyday who are impacted by the media in one form or another.
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.
In 2009, the Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) changed or withdrew 2,397 advertisements for being misleading. The development of computers and digital image editing software, such as Photoshop has increased false advertising. However, authoritative organisations such as ASA and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) accept a limited amount of “airbrushing” in advertisements. This opens the debate of whether controlled airbrushing is ethical or not. Because airbrushing in advertising constitutes distortion of an image, it is deceitful ; given that it influences society’s reality, it is pervasive ; since it may harm consumers’ well-being , it is harmful: excess or controlled airbrushing, by all means and purposes, is unethical.
Scapegoating is when a person irrationally blames their failures on others, therefore not taking responsibility themselves. The “scapegoating theory says that prejudiced people believe they are society’s victims” (Schaefer 38). It is always someone else’s fault that things do not go their way and the person “… transfers the responsibility for failure to some vulnerable group” (Schaefer 38).
What girl would not and does not want to look like Barbie, or one of those models you see on at fashion shows, or even a famous actress? They have this body that every girl wants and will do anything to get; tall and thin. These models are everywhere; they surround us in magazines, posters, advertisements, television shows, music industry, and at shopping centers. This perfect women figure is surrounding us, making us, women, believe that that is the only figure accepted in this world. Those women who do not look like that are laughed at, and picked on. Women will do whatever is on their hands in order to get the body everyone considers accepting. A few will go to the extremes and cut down on the amount of meals they are eating, they’ll increase the time exercising, and some will even get plastic surgery done. All this for the “pe...
The media shows women that represent beauty, even if these women are not real. This means the women in magazines that teenagers wish to look like is not authentic. Many teenagers don’t understand the difference of what is real and fake. So, they believe that the ave...
In modern society there is more and more digital editing without the knowledge of consumers. Currently there are various reasons for why women develop negative body image, low-self-esteem and eating disorders. According to Naomi Wolf in her novel “Beauty Myth”, one of the many reasons women obtain concerns with their bodies is due to the universal images of young female bodies presented through advertisements in fashion magazines. Advertisements in magazines are altering and shaping the desires of men and women. Magazines sell viewers images of beautiful, skinny, flawless confident young women. When people are constantly antagonized with the magazine industry’s ideal of “perfect beauty” the viewer’s then, subconsciously believe these images to be true and begin to form biases about what they themselves should look like and what other people must also look like. People who view magazines get mislead by advertisers because they are unaware that all the images displayed are digitally altered through Photoshop and airbrushing. Today’s magazines are formed completely on false ideals of flawless beauty and unattainable body images, to prevent women and men from falling victim to the magazine’s deceitful images we as a society need to become aware and educate ourselves.
Justify your answer. I have to yes and no to this question. I think it should the truth and tell the youth and everyone that beauty is skin deep. For one this ad is only out many of expressing this. There have been females’ celebrities against photo shopping their image and to show the world their real beauty. The second has to no, because beauty is always conscience been important in the media, Hollywood and ads. Cindy Crawford a beautiful woman has been Photoshop to make perfect especially she has gotten older, Beyoncé skin was made lighter for a magazine cover. Why they are both beautiful, yet they have to be perfect in the eyes of the world .
While the vast majority of images of females are being digitally enhanced, so is our appreciation for normal, healthy, beautiful, and attainable. Photoshop has gone over the top with how they make pictures look, so much that it’s negatively affecting vulnerable children, and teens with low self-esteem issues. One important justification for why people go through serious issues with their bodies like self-esteem, and eating disorders is because of the media. The media plays a huge role in our everyday life, and when a person sees an image they are automatically influenced by what that image portrays.
Every day there are people criticizing themselves or others on the way they look. Do you know why they do it? It’s because of the media’s distortion of body image. The media’s idea of “real” beauty, such as being the thinnest or having the best skin, are some of the reasons why people of all ages suffer from conditions like bad self esteem, eating disorders, or even depression.
Looking at pictures of models or actresses show that these women have flawless skin and flawless bodies. But the reality is these images have been photoshopped to look the way they do. Some people do not even realize that some of the images they see are 100% FAKE! As stated by, “How Can You Take Photoshop Lightly.” In the past two weeks many men and women have witnessed numerous brands digitally shrinking women’s waist, slimming down upper arms, and enhancing inner thighs. How is that fair to everybody else around the world? Some other women would like to look these models they see. Many women completely block out the fact that these images are fake and there is no truth behind them.
In American culture today, society's view of beauty is controlled by Hollywood, where celebrities are constantly in the lime-light. The media watches Hollywood's every move, and is quick to ridicule “A-listers” whenever they dare to gain a few pounds or to let an uncontrollable pimple show. The media has created a grossly distorted mental image of what should be considered beautiful, and with almost every junior high and high school-age girl reading and viewing this message, the idea has been instilled in them as well. This view of beauty is causing many teenage girls to become obsessed with a highly problematic and unattainable goal of perfection.