disordered body images
The images and perceptions conveyed through the media, plays a major role in Australian culture and their obsession with staying young, dieting, keeping fit, looking good and changing looks through methods such as cosmetic surgery. Everyday, by simply turning on the television or opening a magazine, people are bombarded with images of slim, fit, healthy-looking, attractive models and messages of how we should look and what sort of person we should be [www.cyh.com/cyh/ youthtopics]. The reality is that the health and well being of a generation of young women is being threatened as they try to match up with this stereotype put before them. Girls as young as eight are dieting as a result of their poor body image [Davis etal, 1999:375] and this information demonstrates the influence that exposure to media images of the ideal body shape, has on young women's self-perceptions [Body Image Symposium, Brisbane:2000]. I believe that poor Supportive Environments are definitely contributing to the negative body images, that so many of our youth have today - both male and female. Men are faced with the pressures to tone-up, muscle-up and look big, strong and tanned. While women are faced with the pressures to slim-down, tone-down and
These messages cannot be reversed by a segment of the media but instead require the support of the media as a whole, to effectively change acceptance and tolerance of young people today. These girls take this minority, this 5% of body types and believe that it is the only acceptable figure and with this figure comes everything portrayed within the advertisement. Their self-esteem and self-worth is lowered and they believe that the 'model perfect' body is achievable and if they do not achieve it they are worth nothing [Body Image Symposium, Brisbane: 2000]. The purpose of the Awareness Week is to make known to the community, parents and teenagers all aspects surrounding Body Image Problems and ultimately, the acceptance of their own shape and the shape of their peers. Credit should be given to these current programs, however they need more support and exposure through Community Action. Television programs that show the 'before' and 'after' shots of patients, add to the acceptance and the desire for such procedures [Davis etal, 1999:377]. Just as the media now bombards us with distorted and unrealistic images, they need to be turned around and bombard us with healthy and obtainable images that still have the appeal to the young market. There are currently limited preventative programs in place such as the Total Gorgeous CD-Rom and the Body Beautiful Videos. The negative effects of these advertisements include not only a whole range of disordered eating habits, but the pursuit of cosmetic surgery. This issue affects everybody, however it is inequitable that young adolescents represent such a large proportion of this group - especially females aged between 12-25. During that week have numerous activities that appeal to the audience, including guest speakers, informative videos and games and workshops to improve understanding of the issue and the consequences. Girls as young as 14 are now seeking, and in some cases obtaining, cosmetic breast surgery, and this 'modification of the body' is brought about by the cultural pressures to conform to the 'perfect body ideal' [Body Image Symposium, Brisbane: 2000].
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Acceptance Essays
