The media is increasing in size and is influencing many people. Unfortunately, more and more individuals are suffering from the negative effects of being constantly exposed to images of the "ideal" body. Many studies have shown that the media can lead to a negative perception of a person's body image. The film and music industries, as well as advertisements constantly portray the ideal body for women to be thin. When women see these images and then look at their own bodies, they begin to think that they aren't beautiful. This dissatisfaction with one's body image can lead to low self-esteem, and even depression. As mankind we need to stop judging one based on appearance and perfection. Everyone should come together in unity no matter what we look like.
Action:
Action:
My action will be to connect with people who suffer from media's beauty standards, so we could take a stand against their unrealistic expectations. My goal is to make people more aware of this issue to show that everyone is beautiful snd unique in their own way, and no outlet should classify them otherwise.
Research:
Beauty standards through the media drastically impacts women's body image. One of the beauty ideals in America is being thin. A women named Arielle Cutler obtained a Levitt grant so that she could study the adequacy of media literacy (Ossola). In her observation, she found that people are consistently encircled by the media. Cutler claims that these people establish their identity through images they see; hence, why young girls exposed to thin-ideals are dissatisfied with themselves.
A study that tested the correlation between media and body image was done on European and African American girls from the ages seven to twelve. The study found that the more television the young girls watched, the thinner the ideal adult body type was admired, and a higher level of disordered eating (Ossola). Due to the unrealistic beauty standards that the media glorifies, most young women have negative thoughts about their body image.
There are also websites that are are devoted to eating disorders. These sites encourage people to harm themselves in order to be thin. In 2007, a study discovered that just visiting these websites can lead to a more negative self-image and increase the desire to be thinner (Vargas). Because the media praises thin girls, it created an outburst of self-hate and insecurities.
A study that tested the correlation between media and body image was done on European and African American girls from the ages seven to twelve. The study found that the more television the young girls watched, the thinner the ideal adult body type was admired, and a higher level of disordered eating (Ossola). Due to the unrealistic beauty standards that the media glorifies, most young women have negative thoughts about their body image.
There are also websites that are are devoted to eating disorders. These sites encourage people to harm themselves in order to be thin. In 2007, a study discovered that just visiting these websites can lead to a more negative self-image and increase the desire to be thinner (Vargas). Because the media praises thin girls, it created an outburst of self-hate and insecurities.
References:
- Vargas, E. L. (2013, June 18). The Negative Effects of the Media on Body Image. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.personal.psu.edu/bfr3/blogs/asp/2013/06/the-negative-effects-of-the-media-on-body-image.html
- Ossola, A. (2010, September 1). Hamilton College. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/the-medias-effect-on-womens-body-image
Personal:
My dream is to be a model because society looks up to these girls like angels. The media perceives their lifestyles as luxurious and simple, but I know it is not. I know how hard it is to look good in photos, walk in heels, and be fit, but I still want to be one. Currently, I keep telling myself that I am too fat. I get so insecure when I look at my stomach because it is not tone and flat enough. Additionally, I get scared when my waist is twenty four inches because I think that number means I am chunky, even though having twenty four inches is considered thin. Furthermore, my sister keeps telling me I am too skinny too, but I will not listen to her because I keep telling myself that she is blind. I even changed my diet and started exercising to be even thinner. I work out about five times a week, three hours each time so I could burn the calories I ate. I still eat because I do not want to be anorexic, but I restrict diet when it comes to carbs which I know is not good for the body, but I heard that bread makes you fat, so I do not eat it. Since the media praises models, society follows; therefore, I will continue chasing my dreams of becoming a model knowing that its not so sophisticated and glamorous.
Growing up, I was not one of those kids who played a sport, or an instrument, instead my parents kept me locked up at home. I do not know if it is because they did not want to pay for it, or they just wanted me home, either way I was not an active child. So, instead of doing group activities, I watched television. I watch so much television growing up to the point that the media became a huge part of my life. I watched many reality television programs, talk shows, sitcoms, pretty much everything that aired at the time. The media still has a huge impact in my life today, which is why I chose the topic of how the media influences one's appearance and self esteem. I chose this issue because there are many people who suffer from beauty standards that society enacts on each other. I also relate to this problem because I am insecure that I am not as skinny or tall as renowned people in the media. This issue speaks close to me because I am suffering from it right now, and I know that it is wrong to be ashamed of the appearance that I was born with because natural beauty is the best kind, but I still feel a bit apprehensive when it comes to my appearance.
Pictures:
- "The media's social standards is what destroys beauty."
*Reflection:
Cutler then argues that advertising feeds off of people’s insecurities to convince them to buy a product.
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