A Rhetorical Analysis on Media’s Influence on the Ideal Body Image Everywhere we look media seems to be portraying body images that lack what used to be known as “sexy curves” and possess more bone than anything else. Whether it be an advertisement in magazines or reality shows such as America’s Next Top Model on television, word has traveled that the thinner you are the better. The roles that obese characters play in movies or on television are negative more often than not. They are viewed as unsuccessful, lacking friends, family, and love. The slender, “beautiful” women are regarded as influential, successful, and erotic.
In her essay, Barbie’s Body May be Perfect but Critics Remind Us It’s Plastic, Angela Cain analyzes how Barbie and other media icons affects women’s self image in our society. Barbie, one of the most popular fashion icons, has been shaping the way girls view their bodies since 1959. Barbie, and her unrealistic proportions, has been the idealistic body type. Women have struggled at great lengths to achieve the generally unattainable, to look like Barbie. Studies have shown that over 60 percent of women were unhappy with their bodies, as they have been raised comparing themselves with Barbie and other various models of the fashion industry.
All in all I was shocked when I read this and think it is very sad that on national television there is a body type this is accepted. When will they have a pageant with women who are over a size negative 2? At least then maybe people can see that they don’t have to conform to what society thinks is
Twenge states, “To many older people, it’s funny. But too many younger people the main consumers of the reality shows on, say, MTV it shapes their views of the world” (pg 7). Narcissism is shown often, and without hesitation on reality TV younger viewers are being conditioned by the depiction of narcissism. Slowly, the excess amount of narcissism seems normal. For instance, on “America’s Next Top Model” young viewers wish to be thin, tall, and overall a model, but go about it in the wrong ways.
Clearly the way to get beautiful women is to ignore them, perhaps mistreat them" (272). The ad Kilbounre is describing is similar to the picture in the Bebe ad, and she is trying to make women see just how degrading these images are. The woman in the Bebe ad is very desperately attempting to get the man's attention by leaning on him and focusing her attention on him, but he doesn't seem interested. The image is posed like that to show superiority and power that men supposedly have over women. This teaches women that they need to constantly dote on the man, whether he pays attention or not.
Some say Madelyn’s grown-up beauty is giving other young girls unhealthy ideas about how they should look and these people sure know what’s good and bad. Should our 10 year olds be exposed to the world in such a way? I think not. Girls under the age of 16 should not be allowed to pose for images or walk on the runway.
It makes women seem like all they care about is being with a wealthy men and that they use their body to achieve this. Making women seem like all they care about is being with a wealthy powerful man. The ads are a problem for women in many ways. The ads make women look at themselves much harder on themselves and think that they don’t look good enough. Also these ads make women look like they like to be dominated by men, making men think its okay to abuse women.
When we see the TV commercials and the ads in them, always see the products for male gender, as a woman as an object to call the attention of the genre. In fact, 57% of rock music videos portray women as a sex object, a victim, as unintelligent, or in a condescending way. (Confidence Coalition). Orbach’s state “ The media present a woman either in a sexual context or within the family ” (Orbach 203) what we mean is that the stereotype of women, causes it to be used in only two ways, and one of them is like an object. This is why singers like Jennifer Hudson, after achieving success, try to conform to a stereotype labeled by
Often women are seen more as property and an assumption that they must be submissive and less powerful then the men in their lives comes into play and discourages them from following their dreams. Ne-Yo portrays to his audience that it is more respectable to be a leader rather than one who follows others. He, being a popular and talented performer, makes the message in this song impact his fans, especially
The article “Raunch Culture” by Ariel Levy discusses how life in the twenty first century has become very raunchy and erotic. She talks about how easy it is to blame the males of our culture for objectifying women. However, it is the women who are volunteering to have these pornographic or racy photographs and videos taken of themselves. Even women athletes are posing for scantily clad pictures, and they are getting more attention for that than their specialized sporting events. This article discusses that women taking control of their sexuality and objectifying themselves are not, in fact, the same thing.