Effects+of+Media+Exposure

Aubrey Yamamoto 5-12-11     p6      Effects of Media Exposure From the time a baby girl is born, she will constantly be exposed to the media. As she grows older, she will travel deeper and deeper into the world of the media through movies, magazines, and television shows. Within all of the exposure, she sees that all of the successful women in media look similar: tall and thin. At this point, the media has done its damage, and she will try to look just like them.

The media is the only source that spreads the image of the “ideal body.” What the media perceives as the standard, healthy body is constantly portrayed in magazines, advertisements, and more. Because the media has made it normal to be significantly underweight, more girls are trying to achieve this look; "Studies have shown that while 25 years ago the average model weighed 8% less than the average American woman, today's model weighs 23% below the national average" (//The Barnard/Columbia Women’s Handbook 1992//). And while these standards are always changing and narrowing, the average body size for a person is considered "abnormal" (//The Barnard/Columbia Women's Handbook 1992//).

Obviously, the outcome of girls trying to achieve the ideal body has led to negative results. When girls and women are bombarded with images of skinny, successful, and supposedly happy models, they feel the pressure to look just like them. The National Eating Disorders Organization claims that "media images are a direct, immediate cause of body dissatisfaction and unhealthy behaviors." Also, according to Marika Tiggeman, the media is "certainly the way ideals get promoted the fastest and furthest." Girls and women are poisoned with the idea that having the perfect body means having the perfect job, perfect family and overall a perfect life. With this idea, women will do whatever it takes to obtain the "perfect body." The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. states that about one in every four college-aged women are known to use unhealthy methods of weight control like, "skipping meals, fasting, excessive exercise, laxative abuse, and self-induced vomiting." The Canadian Women's Health Network says that girls as young as 5 and 6 years old have been known to take weight control measures. The age of dieters has also expanded into children in elementary school in the United States.

In America, a study by Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark titled “Appearance Culture in Nine- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction,” stated that about half of all preadolescent girls wish to be thinner. As a result, they are aware of dieting, and/or have engaged in a diet. A study has shown that "40% of 9-year-olds have been on a diet" (Academic Psychiatry) and the frequency of children trying to lose weight has increased. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 per cent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 per cent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight. Overall research indicates that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way (Media Awareness Network).

Along with the dissatisfaction with their body, women will suffer from mental problems. Body dissatisfaction is "having negative thoughts and feelings about one’s body" (National Eating Disorders). When a person dreads everything about themself, this links to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence. Therefore, body dissatisfaction is "a significant risk for physical health, mental health, and thus well-being. Any factor, such as idealized media images, that increases body dissatisfaction is therefore an important influence on well-being" (National Eating Disorders).

Currently, the influence of the media on women can be confusing. Women are given mixed messages about what is "sexy" making it "difficult to choose a role model" (Academic Psychiatry). Women need to be stick thin but with a big bust, they need to be athletic but not too muscular. Basically, women need to have a body that is highly unlikely to achieve in order to feel good about themselves.

To combat the negative effects of the media, everyone must be informed of what is happening. Most people are not aware of the impact the media has on others, and "people are typically not aware of the extent to which models are altered " (National Eating Disorders). Images of models are retouched to enhance eyes, narrow waists, and make legs longer and slimmer. When these images are altered to such an extent, even the model in the picture doesn't have the ideal body the media wants.

What makes matters worse is that there is still no chance of obtaining the ideal body for most women. Only women with that specific set of genes could possibly obtain a body that is close to the "ideal body." But still women seem to believe that if they lose weight, they will look perfect. Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real women’s bodies have become invisible in the mass media... The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize these stereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industry's standards. This focus on beauty and desirability, "effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate" (Media Awareness Network).

The media needs to eliminate the idea that "only thinness sells" (National Eating Disorders). Until women are no longer exposed to massive amounts of thin, altered bodies, many will continue to suffer from body dissatisfaction. As long as women believe they can achieve this ideal body, they will try to look perfect. The first step to positive change must begin with the media.