The Media Lies Effects of the Media on Body Image Essay

The Media Lies: Effects of the Media on Body Image Recent studies have shown that approximately 75 percent of adolescent females wish to be thinner and over 35 percent of them resort to drastic extremes to achieve the new â€Å"thin ideal.† (Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adolescent Girls) Today in our culture, this ideal of body image is portrayed in every aspect of our lives. We see a representation of attractive, extremely thin women in magazines, television shows, movies, commercials, etc. The new body image, which today is described as being perfect, is a new, unrealistic standard of skinny. This type of representation presented by the media compels female adolescents to view themselves in negative ways which results in eating disorders,†¦show more content†¦It typically starts with body dissatisfaction or low self-esteem. Body dissatisfaction, the feeling that people may have that their actual physical appearance isn’t how they prefer to look or how societ y prefers they look, is often caused by the portrayal of body image by the media. Grabe, Hyde, and Ward explain â€Å"that approximately 50% of girls and undergraduate women experience body dissatisfaction (2008).† (Effects of the Media on Body Image) Not only does body dissatisfaction typically place girls in a great risk for developing an eating disorder, but it has also been linked to critical mental and physical health problems. The media’s consistent portrayal of the new â€Å"thin ideal† influences adolescent females in such a negative and degrading way that it’s taking a strong tole on the beautiful, young girls in our society. When people think of the new body image, we automatically think models. Well, yes, models are a major factor in the body image persona, but it’s not just models. The media broadcasts the â€Å"thin ideal† in every possible way that we can think of. Researchers have found that the ongoing exposure to the â€Å" thin ideal† can shape and distort adolescent female’s perceptions of beauty, particularly in television media. Take the movie Cinderella for example. Cinderella is portrayed as a beautiful, thin, feminine female while her â€Å"ugly† stepsisters are shown as short, overweight and masculine. However, it is not justShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Susan Bordo s Globalization Of Eating Disorders 993 Words   |  4 Pagesperfect body.† However, today we find that many individuals are doing the completely opposite. In Susan Bordo’s, â€Å"Globalization of Eating Disorders† essay, they fall into the media trap, the self-image trap, where they are concerned of what people may think about them. Americans nowadays have pageants, modeling, and media to thank for this absurd notion. Fit women, along with strong men give this motivation to others to want to be like them. Most people should be comfortable with their own bodies. AmericansRead MoreMedia Negativ ely Affects The Self Esteem And Body Image Of Young Girls861 Words   |  4 Pages The media negatively affects the self-esteem and body image of young girls. The media is known for broadcasting thin models and not taking into consideration the affect that it could have on millions of young women. When young girls see thin models that they aspire to be on TV increases their concerns about their bodies and that causes young girls to develop eating disorders, such as excessive dieting, bulimia and anorexia. It is very vital for every young girl to feel comfortable in her own skinRead MoreMass Media Effects on Women1721 Words   |  7 Pages Mass media Effects on women Advertisement put adverse impact on women’s these could be internal or external. Internally when women watch ideal or thin images of models in advertisement then they feel very unattractive compare to the models in commercials. They feel lower self-esteem and self-concept in them and it generates anxiety or depression in women. According to article† negative body image is associated with poor self-esteem, anxiety about socialRead MoreEssay on Fascades of Current Society1087 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Throughout history women, men, and children have all felt the pressures and manipulations by the media through some faà §ade style form or shape. A Faà §ade by definition is a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect, which is primarily imposed or placed on an object, group, or even individual. Through the use of words, deliberate images, and material items advertised within society, as a result have become pressures felt by all types of individuals. Many of theseRead MoreBeauty and the Beast...of Media1237 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Beast...of Media Media is everywhere we turn. It’s displayed on billboards, commercials, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. It influences people to purchase certain things or even vote for a certain presidential candidate. Media tells us who we are and who we should be. Although media has its positive effects, like spreading the latest news quickly, it also has many downfalls for teenagers, specifically teenage girls, who are hounded with a stream of media related to body image. Today most womenRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Society1560 Words   |  7 Pagesmatter then why do women and girls live in a society where their bodies define who they are? If looks don t matter then why is airbrushing used by the media to hide any flaws a person has? What exactly is causing this, why do we feel like we are just not beautiful the way we are? Its the media. It’s because the media promotes a certain body image as being beautiful, and it’s a far cry from the average woman’s size 12 . The media may be great for entertainment but it also has the power to destroyRead MoreA Culture Of Perfection : Media s Influence On Adolescents1362 Words   |  6 Pagesin us from a very young age. The body images promoted by the media implant an unrealistic view of what is â€Å"beautiful† and perpetuate eating disorders, low-self esteem, and depression among adolescents, especially females. Young girls are being raised in a society that tells them they are â€Å"not enough†. They are not thin enough, beautiful enough, sexy enough, or feminine enough to deserve the title â€Å"woman†. It is time to put a stop to media’s manipulation and lies. Adolescence is a very transformativeRead MoreThe Media s Effect On Women s Body Image967 Words   |  4 PagesThe Media s Effect on Women s Body Image We live in a body-obsessed culture.  Women feel pressured to have the perfect bodies, and we believe so many lies about what a perfect body is from the media. Women are today influenced by images that we see in the media, and sometimes the influence is so great that we risk our lives trying to portray what we see. Across the board throughout different civilizations, there have been so many distortions of what the perfect body looks like placed in ourRead MoreImproperly Redefining ‚Äà ºBeautiful‚Äà ¹: Social Media‚Äà ´s Profound Effect on Body Image1483 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Emily Muhlberg ENGL 112 Dr. Delony March 4, 2014 Improperly Redefining â€Å"Beautiful†: Social Media’s Profound Effect on Body Image The effects that social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have on their viewers are widely varied, but in my opinion the most impactful message that viewers take away from their social media use is the proposed definition of what is â€Å"beautiful†. People are highly moldable beings who soak up what they are surrounded by, so it makes sense that aRead MoreArticle Analysis : Killing Us Softly1423 Words   |  6 PagesFilms, graphically and effectively depicts the harm caused by modern day media and advertisements. I was personally affected by this movie, for Jean Kilbourne paints a vivid picture of how advertisement influence individuals perceptions of themselves and the world around them. Kilbourne describes how current advertisements present one type of women; tall, Caucasian, and almost always very skinny. This portrayal of beauty in media and in the fashion industry has set unrealistic expectations for young