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Body Image Ideals

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Body Image Ideals
What is attractive and beautiful varies in different cultures and time periods. Body image ideals have always existed, and continue to evolve. In today’s American society women are tormented by a thin ideal. Certain thin body sizes are desired by both men and women. Agents of socialization such as media, reinforce the ideal of thin bodies. The media constantly encourages women to lose weight by using fast solution products and ultra-slim models as seen on Figure 1. Media provides a platform for women when it comes to losing weight and achieving the ideal slim body type. Media plays a huge role when it comes to how women view themselves since many magazines and television programs portray how they are expected to act and how they should look.
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