All forms of media show images of flawless, beautiful, bone thin women who flaunt their body parts to sell anything from cars to plastic surgery. Magazines, television shows, movies, and commercials occupy a lot of our free time and are enjoyable, as long as people don’t base their self image around what they see. The women in the media set bad examples for how young girls think they should look. These airbrushed models and actresses’ end up putting major pressure on women of all ages to lose weight. The media has the ability to affect a young girl or woman’s self image negatively or positively. This all depends on how well she rejects society’s demands for what they see as the “ideal body.”
Starting at a very young age, girl’s are immediately given a negative message of what they should look like once a “Barbie,” doll is put into their hands. The unrealistic perfect body, large breasts and blonde hair can give a little girl the impression that these characteristics are what consists of being pretty. As they get older, the girl’s image is influenced by how the people around her react to her body and the way she looks. In turn, she becomes exceedingly conscious of what society’s standards looks at as havine the "perfect body." According to Teen Magazine, “35 per cent of girls 6-12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50-70 per cent of normal weight girls believes they are over weight.” The body features in the media are enhanced with props, lighting, and computer techniques, such as airbrushing. Young girls think they should look like these airbrushed models, but the truth is, it’s just not possible. The majority of commercials on television are promoting diet pills, plastic surgery, and diet programs. “It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth $100 billion (U.S) a year.” After counting 36 women magazines I have around the house, 25 had at least one weight loss tip on the cover of the magazine. This self done survey, explains why it is almost impossible for girls not to think that being thin is the essential criterion of beauty. Too many young girls starve themselves in order to look like the models they see in the media. These adolescents don’t realize that comparing themselves to these women is not realistic and is proven to lower their self esteem.
According to a Health Magazine, “The media message is that if you try hard enough, spend enough or suffer enough, you will have the look you want and that being skinny somehow brings you happiness and success.” The skinny models women see in the media can make losing weight a discouraging process which cause a large percentage to develop an eating disorder. After trying to eat healthy and exercise, women begin to get frustrated with their struggle to lose weight, causing them to get sucked into commercial and advertising’s quick fix solutions. Plastic surgery, as advertised on television is an easy way out, but many health risks are involved. Some advertisements such as diet pills give women the idea that these pills will make them lose weight quick and easy. This can result in depression, low self esteem, and compulsive eating due to her extreme efforts of trying and not getting immediate results. Work out tapes and exercise equipment could influence women to work out in a healthy manner, but also can give them the crazy idea that over exercising will result in looking like the models portrayed in the videos. Unfortunately, the thin models and actresses in the media make real women feel that they are invisible. They look at these women and judge themselves according to how our society portrays beauty.
Most women want to feel good as well as look good. There are a lot of healthy ways to lose weight besides comparing yourself to unrealistic images we see in the media. Exercising and eating healthy is the first step to loosing weight. Diet pills and plastic surgery is an easy way out and doesn’t teach the person the correct way to become in shape. Television, movies, magazines and commercials are a large part of our lives. As long as women stay away from the unrealistic stereotypes, then they won’t get sucked in to some of the harmful messages the media has to offer. In order for the media not to affect women’s self esteem, parents should teach their daughters at a young age that real beauty is natural and lies within.
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