Female Body Image
Growing up I always wanted to be my own person, from choosing what clothes I wore, to trying to wear my mother's make up. As I started growing older, everything changed, I looked up at the TV one day and saw skinny models looking radiant down the runway. I remember telling myself "I want to be just like them." They were everywhere, on magazines, TV, and billboards. I have never been a size 0 but after seeing that all the girls on the media were so skinny and "perfect" my goal became to look just like them so I could get the same attention they got. It seemed that in order to get attention and acceptance you needed to look a certain way. As an adult now, I have witnessed the tragic effect that appearances on the media have on people. They try
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to sell you an imagine that supposedly is the ideal body type. Media has made lots of people feel unaccepted, one example of this is the case of my friend Anna. She felt that she was ugly and worthless because she was not as skinny as those girls; she decided to go on a diet and started working out daily. Soon that lead to her to throwing up what she ate and skipping meals. Six months later Anna got diagnose with Anorexia, she got so caught up in becoming an imagine that is impossible to reach. This issue concerns me more each day because just as my friend, other men and women suffer from the so called "ideal body image" everyone wants to have. Everyone has something they wish they could change about themselves, but when media constantly reminds people that there is something wrong with the way they look it starts affecting because they buy the idea that the images they see are their reality and everyone has to look like that in order to be accepted. This semester I plan to research the role media plays in the way society is labeling people's appearance. I want to explore the negative impacts it has on people psychologically because I am interested in knowing what damages can be cause by media when they portray an image and critic someone who does not meet those standards. I also want to research if there is a connection between the way we behave towards people who are believed to not meet the standards of such perception of beauty and bullying and body shaming. This is my main topic of interest due to the fact that I have seen people of both genders who look up to the standards set by media, and the ongoing argument going around that debates up to what point do we let media run our lives setting standards for people. This issue about media and appearance has always interest me; I have been intrigued with why we follow media so much; why do we let it define important aspects of our lives such as what we have to look like to be socially accepted.
When writing my essays I will focus on providing information from case studies, articles, and psychologists. These will provide support to the arguments that I will be presenting, and elaborate on the importance of the issue. Having background knowledge based on the amount of reading I have done on this issue I will use case studies such as "Why Don't I Look Like Her? The Impact of Social Media on Female Body Image" by college student Kendyl M. Klein focusing on the impact media has on the female population. This research also talks about the psychological effects and disorders media has caused. I can also look into articles like "Self Imagine Media Influence- Just Say Yes" which describes how not only are women are influence by media but how men also are. It shows connections to both genders and explains how the issue is universal not just about one sex. It centers on the negative impacts of society, and how ruin society is if we pressure someone to fulfill unrealistic expectations of beauty. For my research I'll search on websites that can be related to the effects of media shaping appearance views in society. I can go into research about how well a healthier lifestyle is promoted that allows people to know the difference between looking like the images on media and having a healthy body. I will be referring to personal experiences to sympathized with the audience and draw attention to my main points since I can relate to what some of the people who are influenced by the misconceptions of their appearance because I see it every day, not only in magazines, but in the students I work with on a daily
basis. There is still more research to be done concerning my issue, there are certain things that I have yet to learn before I can settle down and be able to argue my topic. Some of the questions that are still to be answer are: What kind of regulations do media companies have that can put a limit to some of the advertisements they put about body image? If media has such big power to influence society's views on appearance, what does that say about society as a whole, that we are prejudice to one another? What are the psychological effects that people could encounter if they are trying to perceive the "ideal body" how does it affect them? Does the perception on media on appearance have any connection to today's bullying? Does media have a certain target they want to tackle? Why are teens most influence by media's perception of the perfect body? What role do parents play in promoting a healthy lifestyle for their kids so they know to not look up to media? By finding answers to such questions I will be able to target an issue I want to focus on within the broad topic of " media impacting societal views on appearance." When bringing attention to my issue, there are a lot of people who have strong opinions. My audience is targeted at psychologist for instance. They might have done studies on why and how media is affecting people. They might find results as to what gender and age group is media affecting then most and why. We might have a better understanding of the psychological disorders that come with this. They are the people who can validate the issue with facts. Other people who have a voice on this issue are those who view media as a way of harming one another. They are the people who agree that media plays a major role to how we view or self's, and want to support others who have gone through issues with their body image. My opponents on the issue are those who work in the media such as , reporters, bloggers, tabloids, ect. They can argue that their job is solely to write what's been assign to them and that if they promote a certain body type is because is what is "HOT" at the moment. They can say that they are helping people by trying to put them on a healthier path so they can look like what they want. Models or artists who are put on media might oppose to this issue as well. Some might claim that if they look the way they do, is not to shame anyone but because their life style allows them to look like that and be fit. Some of them might even go further to argue and say that we are the ones disrespecting them for saying they are the ignorant ones to label appearance. My supporters on the issue will be those who have felt influenced in any way by trying to fit into society. They would be the people who have suffer any health issue, bullying, psychological problem because they have wanted to be like the images that media considers "beauty." Some other supporters would be again, psychologists because they have studied the impact media has on people and can testify that it indeed has negative on some. At some point we also need to find common ground, what I would propose is that maybe media companies put restrictions as to what they put out on the media, that way no one is insulted by comments that are not appropriate. This restrictions would be just like the restrictions they have on beer on the media. for example every time beer is shown on TV they have to donate money to associations related to alcohol, like a charity for recovering alcoholics. The same thing could be done to media companies, there could be certain things that will not go on the media, and if they do they have to help the people they have caused problems to. Some people are still unaware of this certain issue, and others might not understand since they have not encounter a situation related to the issue. The best way to bring out some knowledge is by starting out with some facts on the issue. For instance a percentage that shows how many people follow media sites. Then I would share personal experiences like my friend experiencing Anorexia because she wanted to look like one of the models on a magazine. I would describe what she told me, about how she said she felt trough this painful experience. I would use Pathos and Logos to make an emotional connection with my audience, but at the same time go back to my research so they can make sense of what I'm explaining to them. With these appeals, my audience will see that this is an actual issue that is going on, and that is not only one person going through this but lots more. I will make a personal connection with the audience because I can prove all the mental problems some of this people go through, how society is creating a perception of how someone should be like. I believe writing about this topic will make understand more about how it is okay to be your own person, and how you shouldn't let anyone tell you or label your own self worth and beauty. I also believe that it will the audience realize that this are everyday challenges that people like me face every day, but most importantly it will make society open their eyes and see that by ones appearances you cannot judge. My research paper can also show that society as whole needs to change because we cannot judge someone, people have the liberty to become their own person.
to sell you an imagine that supposedly is the ideal body type. Media has made lots of people feel unaccepted, one example of this is the case of my friend Anna. She felt that she was ugly and worthless because she was not as skinny as those girls; she decided to go on a diet and started working out daily. Soon that lead to her to throwing up what she ate and skipping meals. Six months later Anna got diagnose with Anorexia, she got so caught up in becoming an imagine that is impossible to reach. This issue concerns me more each day because just as my friend, other men and women suffer from the so called "ideal body image" everyone wants to have. Everyone has something they wish they could change about themselves, but when media constantly reminds people that there is something wrong with the way they look it starts affecting because they buy the idea that the images they see are their reality and everyone has to look like that in order to be accepted. This semester I plan to research the role media plays in the way society is labeling people's appearance. I want to explore the negative impacts it has on people psychologically because I am interested in knowing what damages can be cause by media when they portray an image and critic someone who does not meet those standards. I also want to research if there is a connection between the way we behave towards people who are believed to not meet the standards of such perception of beauty and bullying and body shaming. This is my main topic of interest due to the fact that I have seen people of both genders who look up to the standards set by media, and the ongoing argument going around that debates up to what point do we let media run our lives setting standards for people. This issue about media and appearance has always interest me; I have been intrigued with why we follow media so much; why do we let it define important aspects of our lives such as what we have to look like to be socially accepted.
When writing my essays I will focus on providing information from case studies, articles, and psychologists. These will provide support to the arguments that I will be presenting, and elaborate on the importance of the issue. Having background knowledge based on the amount of reading I have done on this issue I will use case studies such as "Why Don't I Look Like Her? The Impact of Social Media on Female Body Image" by college student Kendyl M. Klein focusing on the impact media has on the female population. This research also talks about the psychological effects and disorders media has caused. I can also look into articles like "Self Imagine Media Influence- Just Say Yes" which describes how not only are women are influence by media but how men also are. It shows connections to both genders and explains how the issue is universal not just about one sex. It centers on the negative impacts of society, and how ruin society is if we pressure someone to fulfill unrealistic expectations of beauty. For my research I'll search on websites that can be related to the effects of media shaping appearance views in society. I can go into research about how well a healthier lifestyle is promoted that allows people to know the difference between looking like the images on media and having a healthy body. I will be referring to personal experiences to sympathized with the audience and draw attention to my main points since I can relate to what some of the people who are influenced by the misconceptions of their appearance because I see it every day, not only in magazines, but in the students I work with on a daily
basis. There is still more research to be done concerning my issue, there are certain things that I have yet to learn before I can settle down and be able to argue my topic. Some of the questions that are still to be answer are: What kind of regulations do media companies have that can put a limit to some of the advertisements they put about body image? If media has such big power to influence society's views on appearance, what does that say about society as a whole, that we are prejudice to one another? What are the psychological effects that people could encounter if they are trying to perceive the "ideal body" how does it affect them? Does the perception on media on appearance have any connection to today's bullying? Does media have a certain target they want to tackle? Why are teens most influence by media's perception of the perfect body? What role do parents play in promoting a healthy lifestyle for their kids so they know to not look up to media? By finding answers to such questions I will be able to target an issue I want to focus on within the broad topic of " media impacting societal views on appearance." When bringing attention to my issue, there are a lot of people who have strong opinions. My audience is targeted at psychologist for instance. They might have done studies on why and how media is affecting people. They might find results as to what gender and age group is media affecting then most and why. We might have a better understanding of the psychological disorders that come with this. They are the people who can validate the issue with facts. Other people who have a voice on this issue are those who view media as a way of harming one another. They are the people who agree that media plays a major role to how we view or self's, and want to support others who have gone through issues with their body image. My opponents on the issue are those who work in the media such as , reporters, bloggers, tabloids, ect. They can argue that their job is solely to write what's been assign to them and that if they promote a certain body type is because is what is "HOT" at the moment. They can say that they are helping people by trying to put them on a healthier path so they can look like what they want. Models or artists who are put on media might oppose to this issue as well. Some might claim that if they look the way they do, is not to shame anyone but because their life style allows them to look like that and be fit. Some of them might even go further to argue and say that we are the ones disrespecting them for saying they are the ignorant ones to label appearance. My supporters on the issue will be those who have felt influenced in any way by trying to fit into society. They would be the people who have suffer any health issue, bullying, psychological problem because they have wanted to be like the images that media considers "beauty." Some other supporters would be again, psychologists because they have studied the impact media has on people and can testify that it indeed has negative on some. At some point we also need to find common ground, what I would propose is that maybe media companies put restrictions as to what they put out on the media, that way no one is insulted by comments that are not appropriate. This restrictions would be just like the restrictions they have on beer on the media. for example every time beer is shown on TV they have to donate money to associations related to alcohol, like a charity for recovering alcoholics. The same thing could be done to media companies, there could be certain things that will not go on the media, and if they do they have to help the people they have caused problems to. Some people are still unaware of this certain issue, and others might not understand since they have not encounter a situation related to the issue. The best way to bring out some knowledge is by starting out with some facts on the issue. For instance a percentage that shows how many people follow media sites. Then I would share personal experiences like my friend experiencing Anorexia because she wanted to look like one of the models on a magazine. I would describe what she told me, about how she said she felt trough this painful experience. I would use Pathos and Logos to make an emotional connection with my audience, but at the same time go back to my research so they can make sense of what I'm explaining to them. With these appeals, my audience will see that this is an actual issue that is going on, and that is not only one person going through this but lots more. I will make a personal connection with the audience because I can prove all the mental problems some of this people go through, how society is creating a perception of how someone should be like. I believe writing about this topic will make understand more about how it is okay to be your own person, and how you shouldn't let anyone tell you or label your own self worth and beauty. I also believe that it will the audience realize that this are everyday challenges that people like me face every day, but most importantly it will make society open their eyes and see that by ones appearances you cannot judge. My research paper can also show that society as whole needs to change because we cannot judge someone, people have the liberty to become their own person.