Body Image
Through the use of imagery, the display of life-styles, and the reinforcement of values, advertisements are communicators of culturally defined concepts such as success, worth, love, sexuality, popularity, and normalcy. Of particular concern over the past two decades has been excessive use of sexual stereotypes, especially of women. Women are directly affected by this advertising, beyond the mere desire to purchase the product or service described. The influence of the media on people is tremendous, and the effect of advertisements that direct images of beauty, and the perfect slim figure have a harmful effect on a great deal of the world's population, especially women. The media has portrayed the "perfect body image" so successfully, that women's self-image, self-esteem and even their health is affected.Looking at the media, it's almost impossible to ignore the many images of thin, beautiful women. In many women's magazines, nearly every other page is covered with an advertisement that displays a person with the "ideal body", a slim figure, a happy face, and trendy or chic clothes. Most of the advertisements in magazines try to present models as realistic representations for c
They start to believe that by eating anything at all they will get fat and the most important thing to them is not to be fat. So, for the time being anyway, we are a society being told how to look, and trying to live up to an impossible standard. These women exude a healthy, positive appeal and wear fashionable clothing that is flattering. To achieve this goal, they begin to starve themselves. Women's advertising should be directed toward the professional working women who are the target audience. If it was dieting just for the fact of making women feel better, it would be all right, but the purpose of most people is different. The media must begin to take some responsibility for the images, and the on-going implications of the image, that it presents. Even if a woman does get down to the smallest size, does this mean she will be happy? Looking like a model doesn't necessarily mean women will feel like the models feel. Television broadcasts events and shows like "Miss America," and "Baywatch" that represent unrealistic body types for ordinary women. Mode magazine has taken a step in the right direction. The same can be said for virtually all mainstream shows on television. Beauty and fashion ads are not just selling a product; they are selling a lifestyle. It is hard to remember that the average American woman's dress size is sixteen, not six. Not only do magazines try to portray the "perfect image," but also television advertisements try to achieve this representation of the perfect body.
Common topics in this essay:
Miss America,
Anorexia/Bulimia Association,
Portrayed Media,
America Baywatch,
women feel,
beauty industry,
perfect body,
body image,
women feel models,
women compare themselves,
fat ugly,
selling lifestyle,
ads selling,
women women,
slim figure,
eating disorders,
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Acceptance Essays
