The Medias Dangerous Perception of the Ideal Body Image

Tonight, Captain America: The First Avenger was airing on public television, so I decided to re-watch this fantastic Marvel movie. The main character, Steve Rogers, is a big-hearted, anemic-bodied American in the middle of World War 2. His grocery list of health issues and lacking physique resulted in several rejections from the enlistment officers. However thanks to his friendly German doctor, he eventually found himself injected with a serum that made him the perfect specimen of an American soldier (â€Å"Captain America: The First Avenger). Rogers went on to become one of the most iconic superheros ever to grace the comic book and media outlets, in his world and ours. There is no question as to why: Rogers is tall, blonde with an incredible†¦show more content†¦Women are immersed in a sea of imagery that is hard to ignore. One of the basics things people are taught growing up is that eating gives you the energy you need for the day. Growing a little older and a person be comes aware that eating too much causes you to grow bigger (or fatter). Then if a person wants to become thinner, the most logical place to start would be the diet. A study conducted by Duke University showed that 40% of all nine and ten year old girls have already been on a diet (Self Image/Media Influences). Surveys by the Centers for Disease Control in 2004 reported that in adolescents approximately ages fourteen through eighteen, more than 59% were trying to lose weight and that 18% of girls had gone without food for twenty-four hours (â€Å"Body Image†). Children at their pinnacle of growth development are destroying their bodies to achieve a ridiculous beauty standard. And it is not just children who fall for this. Over 90% of women surveyed at a college campus admitted to â€Å"attempting to control their weight through dieting† while 22% of those admitted to â€Å"dieting often or always† (Eating Disorder Statistics). But what happens when the women we m odel ourselves cheat to achieve the same standard they have set? The vast majority of models are considered anorexic within the Body Mass Index criteria, and many of them fall 25-35% below their ideal weight (Rader Programs). If famous actresses haveShow MoreRelatedEffects of Mass Medias Ideal of Thinness1482 Words   |  6 Pagesperspectives to match that of the media’s current ideals. Concern over the media’s influence on body image has recently risen, striking the notion that many people regard the images shown throughout media as ‘real’. However, unbeknownst to them, such unbelievably thin body types are not quite attainable in reality, and therefore, individuals’ own beauty ideals and body images become unrealistic. The mass media’s ideal image of thinness has greatly impacted the overall body image of today, and has been linkedRead MoreMedia s Effect On The Self Esteem Of The Girls1739 Words   |  7 Pages The standard that the media set for the girls is almost impossible to be achieved (Serdar, n.d.). This is probably the most dangerous effect that the media brings toward the self-esteem of the girls. It is natural for people, especially girls to compare themselves with other people (Serdar, n.d.). This comparison can be distinguished into 2 types, upward comparison and downward comparison. An upward comparison occurs when the girls compare themselves to someone who seems to be better than them.Read MoreThe Impact Of Media On Self Esteem1732 Words   |  7 Pagesto realize, even before reaching puberty that this is what their bodies should look like. Older children see celebrities constantly flaunting their sculpted figures, which they magically attained effortlessly. The media broadcasts the thin ideal in almost every way possible. As a result, eating disorders have become more prominent throughout communities because of the unrealistic expectations we hold for our appearances. Body dissatisfaction, or one not feeling content with one’s physical appearanceRead MoreSocial Media s Ideal Body Image For Woman1524 Words   |  7 Pagesand â€Å"womanly† (Merriam Webster/Femininity). When images for â€Å"femininity† are researched, most depict beautiful, perfectly made up, extremely skinny women wearing pink clothing with long, flowing hair. This photo description is social media’s ideal body image for woman. Because of this, sixty nine percent of girls in fifth through twelfth grade reported that pictures on certain types of social media influenced their perception of the ideal body image and forty seven percent of girls in that same ageRead More media Essays1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe media portrays unrealistic images that affect the way people, particularly woman, feel about themselves. And there is no way to avoid it. The media acts as a transmitter of potentially dangerous, socially desirable values and norms. Anyone can become a victim without eve n realizing it. Woman are told to believe distortions, inaccuracies, and bias on a daily basis. Somehow in that all the madness thinness has become synonymous with attractiveness. It is the medias job to surround us with slogansRead MoreHas the Media’s Portrayal of Women Negatively Affected the Body Image of The Wykeham Collegiate Senior School Girls?3130 Words   |  13 PagesHas the Media’s Portrayal of Women Negatively Affected the Body Image of The Wykeham Collegiate Senior School Girls? Table of Contents Page Cover Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Review of Literature 4 Methodology and Presentation of Findings 8 Processing of Findings 12 Conclusion 14 Reference list 16 Appendix 17 Introduction It seems that the media’s portrayalRead MorePositive Adult Role Models1038 Words   |  4 Pagesgo to that positive adult, so they can discuss their problem (â€Å"Media’s Positive And†¦Ã¢â‚¬  1). Next, the effect of today’s media on teens are not connected with friends, they are exposed to things that can send mixed messages. Young teens need positive adult role models to decode those messages, so that teens do not take them wrong. Today, teen boys are meant to excel, and shun things that are not â€Å"masculine.† They are, according to media’s message, to obtain pleasure from life such as money, women, andRead MoreMedia s Influence On Body Image942 Words   |  4 PagesA body image is a subjective combination of all the thoughts, emotions, and judgments that an individual may perceive about his or her own body. Each individual has a unique perception of his or her own body. This image is strongly influenced and often times skewed due to t he increasing pressure created from outside, societal factors. With a world that is continuously creating new forms of social media and entertainment, individuals are constantly exposed to images that supposedly define bodily perfectionRead MoreGeneration Z: Fast and Furious Essay1247 Words   |  5 Pagesrudeness. There are many societal factors that influence the physical activities that Generation Z participate in by exploiting certain characteristics that Gen-Zers possess and society in general. Three of these societal influences are the media (body image), money and gender stereotypes. The media is defined by the Google Dictionary (2014) as â€Å"the main means of mass communication† and encompasses the internet, radio, newspaper, television etc. Due to recent advancements in technology, society canRead MoreThe Effect Of Body Image On Women s Self Perceptions And Feelings About Body Satisfaction And Physical Appearance1798 Words   |  8 Pages Body image is a major concern in women’s self-perceptions and feelings about body satisfaction and physical appearance. Individuals are at higher risk to experience negative body image issues if they hold beliefs and cognitions about their physical appearance, regardless of body mass (Butters Cash, 1987). Over weight and appearance related issues often surfaces early in females development, and continues throughout their lifespan. The importance of physical appearance is emphasized and reinforced