Nicole&Jana

Body Image Issues Youtube video

Abstract: This youtube video dealt with the body image issues that women have because of influence of the media. There hasn't been anything positive from the media about body image. Everywhere in magazines and television shows the media uses skinny, almost sick-looking models to advertise their products. What message is this sending to girls all around the world? This is not reality because the real woman is much shorter and not bone-thin. Many girls go feel that they must look like this and go through drastic measures to resemble the non-realistic images the media sends out.

Questions: 1. How do you feel about your body image? 2. How has the media influenced your perspective on the ideal body type? 3. Would you read a magazine if it didnt have all of those retouched pictures of models? 4. Why do you think commercials use sexual or seductive women to sell their products? 5. Do you think that less, more or the same amount of products would be sold if the original commercial did not have a seductive woman advertising it? 6. How do you feel about the message that the media sends out to girls and women around the world

Nicole's Response: I thought that this video dealt with a very important issue because body image is something that many teens struggle with. I agree that the media is the main cause of this because everywhere we look there are pictures of pretty, stick-thin models. I can honestly say that when I read a magazine I like looking at all the pretty pictures even though I know this is not the reality. However, seeing these pictures forms a standard in my mind, as well as many other teenage girl's minds of what a girl our age should look. I think that the media causes teenage girls to think that we are less beautiful than the girls in the magazines. Commercials use seductive women to sell their products because they think that it will attract the male buyer. However, this makes girls think that they should act or look like those women in order to be desired by men. I think that realistically less products would be sold without a seductive woman because people have become accustomed to this standard which is the hard truth. I agree with the video because although I don't go through drastic measures like some girls, I am sometimes discouraged when I see some of the advertisements. I like how the video addressed that the real woman is 5'4" 140 pounds while the average model in magazines are 5'11" and 117 pounds. It showed the drastic difference between what we see in magazines and advertisements and what we see in the everyday world. Overall, this video was very enlightening because it exposed the reality of media influence on teenage body image.

Jana`s Response: This video about the issue of body image is an important one. The media has a very big influence on many teenage girls and also women. When we see the images of models and famous actresses that are sent out by the media we strive to be like them. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that some girls would actually go to those measures to change their body images. When i see the retouched pictures of models that are so skinny that you can see their bones i immediately become disgusted and feel like eating something. We also see many commercials with women doing sexual things in order to sell a product. But why is that necessary? Some of these pictures in this video are truly sad. The sad part is that the media makes these women subject themselves to an unhealthy life in order to be a model. The rules that they have to follow (certain hight and weight) are unrealistic and cruel. Our world needs more healthy looking women to be in these magazines and the media needs to show the truth and be realistic about the body images that they are trying to influence others to obtain. The media should also be careful because the message that they send out to the world by having these ultra-skinny models is that you are not beautiful unless you are that size. But the truth of the matter is everyone is beautiful in their own way no matter what shape or size you are, and THAT is the message the media should be sending out to the women all around the world.