Media Effects On Body Image

Everyone has their own perspective on what the “Perfect Body” looks like. For both men and women, society has a set view of what they should look like. One obsesses over their appearance just for the satisfaction of others. Approximately 50% of young girls are unsatisfied with their body and perceive themselves as overweight. On the other hand, 45% of men are affected with a muscle dysmorphia; an obsession with bulking up, also known as reverse anorexia, and see themselves as underweight. Weight is how one classifies themselves in regards to life satisfaction, attractiveness, and health. The pressure of the perfect body on social media, magazines, television, and other heavily used media, shapes the lives of a great portion of men and women,
young adults and teenagers. In the essay Our Barbies, Ourselves the author says “The damaging effect of a doll that establishes such an impossible standard of physical perfection for little girls-- and for little boys who grow up expecting their girlfriends to look like Barbie”(Prager). Children as young as 7 years old are experiencing this dissatisfaction of themselves, due to what they see on television and other sources like Barbies and other dolls. The media focuses so much on models, celebrity bodies, and other aspects of the body, that society believes that if they do not match, they are incompetent. Minds are altered by these images because they are categorized as “perfect” and “healthy” so people believe that without that image they are unhealthy and incompetent. Photoshop plays a huge role in the media because the bodies that are considered perfect are not actually real. They are photos that are made to look skinnier, taller, and impossible. Photoshop eliminates the opportunity for real life bodies to be shown. The media makes it so that men and women have to strive for a body image that is not even real and/or able to be accomplished. The media's view of the perfect body affects one's views on their body image because people feel like if they do not reflect that view than they are not good enough. The media's use of films in order to promote body image affects one's self admiration. The movies that are considered the most popular are the ones where there is heavy nudity. A review on the film Magic Mike says “There’s no denying that Magic Mike is a film about the world of male stripping. Filled with naked, muscular flesh and screaming fans clamoring for more of it, it’s planted firmly in the world of men who enact over-the-top fantasies of masculinity to make a living, one dollar bill at a time”(Phipps, Keith). This movie reached over the top ratings and reviews, and billions of views, but why? The amount of nudity and masculinity in the film draws media attention and brings fans in. When the trailer for the film was released, a well known professional review site describes it as “The Magic Mike 2 Trailer Is Here And It's Too Hot To Handle”(Romano, Nick). Men are forced to face the insecurity brought on by a film like this. The film gives women viewers a visual that lowers the ego of a man that does not compare to the ones in the film. A review on Screen Ray says “Even more harmful to the ego than the thought that your lady wants one (or more) of those ripped guys onstage shaking it, is the fear that when the lights come on in the theater, all she’ll have to take home is…you”(Outlaw, Kofi). The film brings insecurities to men, as does other films for women. Movies like Private Resort, Hard Bodies, Spring Break, Spring Breakers, Loose Screws, Seduction, Temptations, and a number of others are women based films that receive their views due to their sexist views on the female body. The movie Private Resort is described on the Rolling Stones as “This witless teen sex comedy doesn't have much to recommend it except for the two then-unknowns in the lead roles: Depp and Rob Morrow. They're two horndogs who've infiltrated a private beach resort in the hopes of meeting bikini babes.(Rolling Stones)”. The film focuses heavily on the bodies of women and the determination of the men to meet them. The women all have “beach bodies” and “bikini bodies” so they are admired. This film would attract the eyes of men due to the nudity of the women, creating insecurities for women who do not compare. So why is it that the media focus on the “perfect bodies” in order to draw society's attention? Can it be possible that without the nudity and body shots, these movies will not sell? Advertisements draw the most attention when it comes to media. The best headlines, get the best reviews. Headlines on magazines like “Sexiest Man Alive” or “Sexiest Women Alive” create insecurities upon people. With women they are used to seeing the widespread of Victoria Secrets(VS) popularities. Every woman who models VS is petite and “perfect”. Women are feeling insecure with the “angels” and some are expressing themselves on the internet. On a Take Part article, it says “The ad features the 2014 Angels in Victoria’s Secret’s usual revealing bras and underwear. However, critics say that showing the slender models with the phrase “The Perfect ‘Body’ ” printed across them is some next-level body shaming(Take Part)”. The term “perfect body” is in fact an insult to one who does not reflect. Victoria Secrets categorises their models and Angels and describes them as perfect, making so it so any women who do not look like them feels as though they are not good enough to be considered perfect. Women fought back to this campaign with a hashtag #IAmPerfect in order to eliminate the body shaming. These headlines are unrealistic and shameful, as it also says on Take Part “With their #IAmPerfect movement, three U.K. residents are saying the lingerie brand is body shaming and promoting an unrealistic standard of beauty.(Take Part)”. Women attempt to disregard the shameful aspects of the campaign, but the Victoria's Secrets Angels still bring out insecurities. Men on the other hand, are struggling in order to compete with the media’s spread on male bodies. On an article on Media Smarts it says “A growing body of research indicates that although boys are less likely to talk about their insecurities, they too experience anxiety about their bodies(Mediasmarts)”. Magazines like Men's Health, leave men into thinking that without a ‘rocking body’ like the men on the covers, that they are lacking masculinity. Calvin Klein, Dolce and Gabbana, Abercrombie, and Hollister, all sexualize men in order to sell their product. Proving that these stores are based on the physical body image of their customers, the owner of Abercrombie says in an interview “[Sexual attraction] is almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that”(Jeffries, Mike). This type of ignorance drives men into insecurities about themselves and what they wear on their bodies. The advertisement for companies drives customers away more than it lures them in. The world of music brings men, women, and teenagers insecurities that not even they are aware of. Nudity is very big in music videos, especially in genres like Hip-Hop and Rap. Most people do not realize what music is doing to them and to their children. For example, many people admire Beyonce, and strive to have a body like hers. On WikiHow it says “Not only does she have amazing musical talent but she also looks fabulous, has curves in the right places, and is nicely toned. For some, she even has "the perfect body”"(How to Get a Body Like Beyonce). Women are looking to change themselves in order to reflect their idol because she is described as “perfect”. In an article comparing media to weight loss it says “Women in the United States are taught through contemporary media, and socialized to believe that their self worth lies in how thin they are”(Relationship between weight loss, media are two-fold for women - The Collegian). The media is teaching women that if they are over a certain weight that they are not beautiful or admirable. A performance by Beyonce is admired by men, women, and teenagers, due to her admirable figure. Teenagers are unhappy with the way they look because they are admiring the bodies of celebrities. Daily Mail says “Now many girls of 13 and 14 are dieting constantly at an age when their bodies are still developing"(90% of Teens Unhappy with Body Shape). Teens are struggling with their body image although their bodies are not grown to scale yet. They are so focused on perfection that they disregard their age and body type. An article on EduGuide asks ‘What affects teens’ body image’ and one of the reasons is our culture. It says “Teens are greatly influenced by the media. Everywhere they turn, unrealistic images of beauty confront them”(Rickard, Barbara). The media is unrealistic and ruining the self esteem and self image of teenagers in this society. Teens are not yet developed enough to be worrying about their shape, but because of the media, they have reason to question whether or not they are good enough. The article on EduGuide also says
“Boys may not talk about their appearance as much as girls do, but they worry just as much. Boys' bodies develop at such varied rates that it's almost impossible for them not to compare themselves to others. Differences in body size can make any young boy feel insecure with his looks. A teen boy may be afraid to take off his shirt in the locker room or at the beach for fear of looking underdeveloped”(Rickard, Barbara).
So for a boy who is not even fully developed to be striving for a body that they saw in a music video, or a performance is absurd. Daily Mail says “Researchers believe young celebrities constantly flashing their six packs and bulging biceps or sharing gym selfies - such as Bieber and the One Direction boys - are the motivation behind the sudden surge in boys taking up bodybuilding”(Daily Mail) and they go on to say “However, many are not motivated by being health-conscious and working off those doughnuts. Rather, they are more bothered about looking like Justin Bieber”(Daily Mail). Teenage boys are working out for show, they are attempting to change themselves in order to look like an idolized singer. The celebrities showing off their bodies in the media motivates boys in the wrong direction because instead of doing it for themselves, they are doing it for the satisfaction of others. Some may argue that the media does not negatively affect one's mind into assuming that they are not good enough. Huffington Post says “It's people who run the media -- not robots or aliens or some impenetrable force. And as a person, you can help change its messages about body image”(Berninger, Lauren). People have the power to change what the media says. If they stand up and create a new topic to reveal to the world that is more interesting than appearance, then it’ll change. People change people, and people change the trends. If the media is affecting so many, than it is their job to put a stop to what it is that is bothering them. Huffington Post continues to say “Don't let the media own real estate in your mind. Ultimately, you have the power to turn off the television, put down the magazine or stop shopping at that store”(Berninger, Lauren). Stating that the media does not have to affect a person as much as they allow it to. A person has the power to ignore what is in the media and be themselves. The media is in a sense owning the minds of people because they are fixated on what is going on in the media and how everyone else looks. This article also explains ways that teens can get away from blaming the media on their body image issues. It says “Realize that celebrities are not the only source of role models: Explore the incredible (and often forgotten) women trailblazers throughout history, get to know local women in your town, from doctors to dance instructors, who are doing what they love, and focus more on how you can be a better role model than how others are failing at it”(Berninger, Lauren). They are telling teens to avoid idolizing someone who is going to make them feel insecure or like they are not good enough. To admire someone who has more to offer than beauty and a nice figure that’ll motivate them to do more than just change their body image. Lastly, this article says “Self-esteem, inner beauty, respect and ambition are always in trend, no matter your shape, height, size or weight”(Berninger, Lauren). Meaning that there is more to reflect on than just the figure of a person or what they look like. The inside counts more than the outside, and that is what is the most important. What this argument fails to accept is that the media is everywhere and there is no way of getting away from it. Influence Guide says that “A significant number of youth nowadays are suffering from eating disorders attributable to unhealthy lifestyles that are emerging. The television programs, movies, and even print materials often showcase this lifestyle as fun activities despite their negative effect on health”(Influence Guide). The media is basically promoting negative lifestyles for young people. On all different types of media illnesses like anorexia and other eating disorders are shown, but instead of being frowned upon, it is viewed as a way to stay in shape and maintain a nice looking figure. There is no way to get away from the media because of how it has become. On an article on AdWeek states “Media is everywhere. Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn collectively have billions of users, and they're getting bigger”(AdWeek) . There is no getting away from the life of the media, so there is no way to not fall into the power of it. Media is everywhere and no matter how society thinks of it, they are being affected by it in some way. One's body image is affected by the media's views on the perfect body, because society feels like without that perfect body, they are not appealing.
Men, women and teenagers are suffering from the heavy attention on body image in the media and they are altering themselves because of it. This view is affecting people's view of themselves, their health, and their self confidence. Although the media does not try to do so, they are hurting the lives of most of their fans. One is not aware of what it is that is going on, their mind is shaping into thinking that what they see is the only way to look. People do not know the affects that the media has on them, nor does the media know that effects they have on people. Celebrities are influential and they are idolized, but they should not be made to be better than others due to their figure. There should not be a set weight that determines whether or not you are perfect or not. Perfect means having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be, and to make something completely free from faults or defects, or as close to such a condition as possible. The media describes anyone with a certain height, weight and shape as “perfect” and allows everyone else to believe so as well. But who is to decide who is perfect and who is not? Body image is the subjective picture or mental image of one's own body. The media should not have the right to alter one's vision of themselves and their bodies. No one person is perfect, so the media cannot decipher the perfect bodies from the imperfect
bodies.