The Media and Body Image

In today’s society, negative body image of women is a growing topic, especially in media. Media has control over peoples’ thoughts on how someone should look, dress, act, etc. Studies have proved that media such as TV, movies, internet, and magazines all have a negative impact on self-image, but the problem is most of these images are photo shopped images.  It is a belief that “thin is beautiful” in our society. The media has been taken over by advertising aims convincing us to buy their product but people in the ads don’t portray the average American. Many young adults see fashion models and celebrities as role models and many believe that they have to look like them with how their own body should look. Keep in mind that the average fashion model wears a size two to four, while the average woman wears a size 12 to 14. I watch the Victoria Secret Fashion Show every year; would I be happy to look like one of those models? Yes, but I am happy with myself. Many girls (and guys) watch the VS Fashion Show and many of the girls will examine the models, and then compare their bodies to the models, their self-esteem is lowered and they look at themselves with dissatisfaction and disgust. Self-Esteem is how you see yourself and your own opinion. Having low self-esteem may be an insignificant effect to some, in other cases it leads to very serious problems. In a national U.S. study in 2008, 25 per cent of girls with low self-esteem injured themselves on purpose and 25 per cent reported disordered eating. Although some forms of media are trying to challenge the beauty standards such as Dove Campaign for Real Beauty which includes different shapes, sizes, and ethnic backgrounds, but it’s not enough to help girls feel secure about their bodies. There has been controversy over plus sized models such as the issue with Tess Munster, a plus sized model. Tess was named top model by Italian Vogue, and is also working with MiLK Model Management (UK based modeling agency). On her Instagram there are comments that call her barnyard animal names and give her “facts” about how she will die early on because of her weight. Also, they express concern that she is a negative role model for promoting obesity by loving herself. The fact that she is getting talked down upon for loving her body and the size that she is seems sickening to me. Public crucifixion is popular these days, it is a pick me up and an escape for people that do not view them as perfect. Some people feel better about themselves if they tear someone else apart for how they look. Media has taken over how people should look, if they don’t look a certain way then we should shun them, tell them they are wrong, and throw nasty comments at them whether it is to their face, behind their backs, or on social media. Now, I am not saying that it’s bad to be small, be whatever size makes you happy, but how the media changes peoples’ mental perceptions on how they should look, in my opinion, is totally wrong.

Tess Munster article: http://www.themilitantbaker.com/2015/01/why-people-hate-tess-munster-and-other.html

Related article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ravishly/being-thin-didnt-make-me-happy-being-fat-does_b_6661862.html

Statistics article: http://mediasmarts.ca/body-image/body-image-introduction

Image from http://holisticallyfit.com/2014/02/01/loving-your-body/