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The influence of media in the body image
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The influence of media in the body image
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The effects and solutions on hypersexualization of young girls In the article “Toddlers in Tiaras” by Skip Hollandsworth, the author covered on the topic of precocious sexualization of young girls, especially toddlers who are competing in pageants. The author did not as to so much state his opinion on the topic but he quoted many other people of their opinions. As our society becoming more advanced, the media becomes more outraged. Television shows and advertisements are competing for the spot light.
Majority of today’s teenagers suffer with the thoughts that they will never be “good enough,” loved, or happy as they are. The positive or negative mental perception that people have of themselves physically is what’s called a ‘body image.’ Although this image may be the total opposite and not reflect on the real appearance, or how others see it, there is no in between of the two body images: positive or healthy body image and negative or poor body image. A healthy body image is considerably attractive and poor body image as unattractive. A negative body image is commonly reported and influenced by the three main aspects: age, gender and society (Davidson and Cataldo, 221-222).
We were born to be real, not perfect. Throughout our lives the media has constantly set standards for what is an acceptable appearance. Initially this has set an impossible goal for millions of viewers. A massive amount of people let their mind bully their body because they do not meet these unrealistic measurements and begin to suffer from disorders and bullying. “Body confidence does not come from trying to achieve the “perfect body,” it comes from embracing the one we already have.”
In today’s world, many children born into this generation grow up with the idea that they are simply not worthy enough to fit in. Many times it branches from the absurd belief that they are not “normal” enough to be friends with the other people in school. 100% of the time it is not true, but what could possibly make children think this way? The actual definition of beauty is what matters is on the inside, not on the outside, meaning that you’re personality outshines your personal appearance. But, whether the source of this negativity is from bullying, family life, or just low self- esteem, it is harming this generation in many ways.
Seven out of ten girls believe they are not suitable, appealing, intelligent and/or amiable enough. From the beginning of time to the present day, people of higher influence have caused both males and females alike to look to them for the way their lives should be perceived by others. Today’s media and those conventional lifestyle portray what the “perfect” body should be like. However, these body images constantly change over time. Those who control the media, ranging from people within the government to Hollywood, flood the media with messages that tell people that their way of living is not good enough if they do not mirror this version of perfection.
Body image may be a complex phenomenon that emphasizes an individual’s mental perception and attitudes towards their appearance. Disturbances in one’s body image is a common outcome when undergoing extensive surgeries which result in an altered physical appearance. Patients with ostomy bags possibly face psychological distress as an outcome because of their altered appearance. Through my clinical experience, working with a colorectal cancer patient, I noticed the need of an ileostomy bag negative impacted the patient’s self-image. The focus of this paper analyzes body image dissatisfaction in patients with ostomy bags based within the context of my patient’s personal experience.
Unrealistic Standards of Being Perfect : Barbie vs. Reality Everyone has heard of a Barbie doll. The idealized, Barbie doll creates an image of a fake “perfect” woman. This is what society is basing the perfect ideal image of the almost impossible, unrealistic womanized standards off. Society has become so determinate on being perfect, focusing on the body and appearance.
Perceptions are formed in early childhood about your body’s health, attractiveness, acceptability and overall appearance. Following the research of the effects of experimental exposure to dolls, it is proven that this exposure affects self-perception of body image. This can be seen of children five to eight when the psychologist of the American Psychological Association states, “For young children, fantasy and play are vital parts of socialization in which they internalize ideals and values, and dolls provide a tangible image of the body that can be internalized as part of the child’s developing self-concept and body image.” (Dittmar, Halliwell, Ive 283). For years, it has become apparent that household toys have influence on the user’s perception,
Serious implications of the thin ideal are widespread in Western women, who are constantly bombarded by such images. The task of paying attention to oneself’s body image causes other cognitive and behavioural functions to suffer. It has been considered that extended exposure to such advertising can lead to women living vicariously through the models and actresses displayed in magazines and on television. The study proves that media pressure has inundated much of the young female population who will stop at nothing to achieve the perceived ‘perfect’ body image (Harper and Tiggemann
‘Participant B’ mentioned that some young women have self-esteem issues. It is possible that they may feel uncomfortable with few of the previous or current body-image trends. She further explained that a curvy woman who has always been confident with her body shape may slowly lose confidence during the period where people in social media keep publicizing the “thigh gap”. ‘Participant F’ suggested that young women who follow these trends are only doing it for the purpose of showing off their bodies/appearance which can lead to other women feeling upset or insecure about their own appearance. She also added that when women follow those trends and improve on their looks, they may be objectified and be used as a tool to attract people’ attention in advertising.
Although body image is a complex and multifaceted construct, encompassing at least perceptual, affective, cognitive and possibly behavioral aspects of body experience (Cash & Pruzinsky, 1990), in contemporary Western society the major focus has been on the body’s appearance, in particular on body shape and weight. What was stated above is not something that cause surprise as long as nowadays, society, states women’s beauty in a specific way and give with a lot of emphasis the desire of thinness which is something ideal for every woman but is not so easy to achieve (Wiseman, Gray, Mosimann, & Ahrens, 1992). The term body image is mostly used to refer to the feelings and attitudes that people have about the way their bodies look. Although
According to Kasey Serdar, “Ultra-thin models are so prominent that exposure to them becomes unavoidable and 'chronic ', constantly reinforcing a discrepancy for most women and girls between their actual size and the ideal body” (1). This body dissatisfaction affects almost every woman in the world. This belief that a person’s body is not
These kinds of representations of body and beauty standards in media is a proof that objectification still exists in today’s society. Objectification happens when a person’s whole function and existence is only valued like that of an object that can be dismantled, stared at, purchased, edited and enhanced, and be used for sexual representations (Bartky, 1990, p. 26). As an example of objectification, the image of women used in today’s magazines is that of thin, flawless models that present audiences the definition of beauty through physical appearance. As any audience of the mass media, women follow the trend presented by magazines which could give a great increase in the thin ideal body figure that many women uphold.
MEDIA INFLUENCE THE FEMALE PERCEPTION OF THE BODY IMAGE Physical appearance in adolescents is the most frequently noted thing. Usually the desire to appear perfect is often defined by having a slim and proportional body. Due to the influence of advertising and various television shows that always highlight the figure of a slim woman with a clean white face increasingly encourages teenagers to put their ideal standards on beauty and physical perfection. many teenagers spend their time to go to the salon in order to beautify him. even some are doing a strict diet to get a beautiful body shape regardless of his health.
In the twenty-first century, men and women have unequal pressure to change their body image to look good. Our society today has the power to determine what a ‘perfect’ body is. Women have had more a history with body image ‘issues’. You hardly ever hear a man complaining about how much he hates his body. I’m here to show the unequal pressure between the genders.
