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.
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. Shows like theses gives young viewers the impression of being tall and thin is how most people are suppose to look, and if you do not look like that then something has to be wrong with them. Many reality shows make narcissism seems normal; therefore, making young viewers have a mind set of it acceptable to do outrageous things to their bodies to look a certain way and be accepted by society. Not only have narcissistic people affected the younger generation’s perception on appearance, but it has also affected their behavior. Twenge says, “reality TV is very popular, and it is supposed to how ‘real life’ and real behavior without the façade of fictionalized dialogue and story lines.
Kyrsten James WIBIS 188-005 October 15, 2012 Word Count # Fat Is a Feminist Issue By: Susie Orbach Obesity and overeating is a topic that is ongoing within the United States and in many lives of woman today. Fifty percent of women that live in this country alone are estimated to be overweight. Individuals of our society are always looking for new diets, dietary plans, supplements, and or advice. Every woman would love to be considered physically fit, and beautiful in the eyes of others, but this within itself is a challenge. Everyone perceives beauty in different ways, shapes, and forms.
Since the start of World War II, the popular media has portrayed a thinner and thinner body image as the ideal body type for men and women. Women and young girls have become more self-conscious about imperfections and how their bodies are to be perceived by society, leading to major issues such as eating disorders, low self-esteem, and decreased confidence. Teens should not be influenced by people’s opinions towards their body image. Some might argue that young teens are being influenced by television and advertising and that may allow them to strive to make themselves look a certain way. Seeing as many teens in the world today are worried about how they dress, what they look like, and how they may eat, this would compel the youth to become more healthy and be thinner by eating less and exercising more.
I know how we always want the next new makeup or hair product that’s going to make s look like the model in the commercial. Women can’t just run to the store in sweat pants because they value their appurtenance too much. Women don’t feel as confident when they don’t look nice, but men don’t really care either way. In the reading, “Do thin Models Warp Girls Body Image?” I agree with Nancy when she says thin models on the runway or on TV can cause very young girls to become anorexic or bulimic. Nancy says, “Girls are being bombarded with the message that they need to be super-skinny to be sexy.” (Hellmich 706) I believe that is very true when she says that but what young girls don’t realize is that you could be beautiful and sexy with any body type that you might have.
This really bothered me for many reasons. One of the biggest issues that I had with this program and major element of the photo business is the effect it has on young girls, especially girls aged 9-15. This is a very critical age for girls because, during this time, puberty happens. During this time, more girls will stop doing what they love because they are self-conscious about their bodies enough without the help of the fashion industry. It isn’t fair for a girl to open a magazine and think that the images they see are how they should look.
Other such pro-social media can be found in New Moon Girls, a magazine that promotes healthy body image and active lifestyles, as well as Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign for real women (Benowitz-Fredericks, 2012). Hogan (2012) also comments on how exercise video games, media literacy games (i.e. The Baby Game) and positive lyric songs can help promote a positive attitude toward life, including body image. The only problem is television companies and media owners are not proponents of pro-social media because it does not make for “good” television or, more importantly,
This is a mental illness common to the young woman. This illness happens because people call you fat even though you are skinny. To not get teased in society you have to look and act normal. Cassie is the one that looks the hottest and that’s why the boys remember her name while referring to the other girls by their appearance. Forgotten Jelly shows us how people
When young girls see people in advertisements that look that way, Jean Kilbourne, creator of “Killing Us Softly III,” explains that they try to mimic the look of these models who have been digitally enhanced and are genetically skinny. She claims that if there wasn’t this pressure on young girls to look a certain way, there would be less eating disorders and girls would be more confident about how they look. The media doesn’t care that thousands of girls are killing themselves to become a body type that rarely exists, the media just wants to sell their product by using someone that society sees as sexy to sell it. Kilbourne also talks about how women in advertisements are seen as objects. She talked about a specific ad for skateboards where the woman is on all fours and the man is using her as a leg rest.
When many people look at the successful super models, actresses or women in the advertisement marketing, they all fit the “thin ideal” (1101). “The portrayal of super-slim women as more fashionable, desirable, and successful can contribute to eating disorders that can kill, and the mass media has been identified as one of the most influential social cultural factors contributing to anorexia” (1101). How are young girls suppose to feel pretty and beautiful when by America’s standard they are overweight? For instance, “society tends to view distinctly overweight people as unattractive and lacking inner discipline” (Turfs University). Society’s perception throughout history has put extremely unhealthy looking women in the media spotlight as the ideal image of beauty.