How is the Media Creating "Ideal" Body Image?

            When the media or society is describing what they would distinguish as a the ideal body their answer would most likely involve words such as slim, fit, tall, tan, clear skin, and other descriptors alike. What has caused us to formulate this certain ideal of what beauty is? The media plays a large role in our everyday lives and can affect how we think and feel concerning certain issues. Body image is one issue that the media has completely altered and has created an “ideal” body image and encourages women to aspire for that certain type of body. Setting this expectation of what a women’s body should look like is extremely damaging to our society. Having this expectation for women can cause extreme self-esteem issues. This can also cause women to take unhealthy measures in order to meet this unrealistic expectation. But how is the media able to influence women in such a dramatic way? The media conveys these messages through television, magazines, billboards, and other forms of advertisement. The media makes use of phrases and slogans in order to encourage this “ideal” body.  The media also uses famous models and celebrities in order to help persuade women to work towards a similar body as the model or celebrity featured. Another method the media uses is Photoshop. Photoshop has many capabilities in order to alter a picture to achieve desired effects. We are constantly exposed to these methods in our daily lives and many are dramatically affected by the message the media is sending with these methods.

When looking at media such as commercials, magazines or billboards, how much attention do we pay to the message that is being relayed? Sometimes the message that is meaning to be communicated is slightly hidden or can even have a double meaning.  The media does this is in order to get the consumer to think or feel a certain way in order to benefit the company marketing the product. It is extremely common in todays society to see at weight loss commercials or ads specifically targeting young girls and women.  For example, this advertisement to the left is on the cover of Shape Magazine, which is a magazine geared to losing weight and having a thin figure. This magazine cover is sending strong messages to the reader by first having a very thin singer, LeAnn Rimes, on the cover. The magazine cover’s headings for the articles found inside are also communicating the same thing by having the words “slim” and “so long cellulite”. Shape magazine is giving the impression that in order to be “in-shape” one must look like the singer who is modeled on the front cover. The magazine is implying that it is ideal to be slim, without any cellulite, and also have a firm body. What about women who don’t fit into this description? Chances are that the majority of women do not look like LeAnn Rimes and probably are not capable of having the same figure type. But why is that being perceived as a negative thing? The media is using certain phrases and words in order to alter what society thinks about the “ideal beauty”. 

Below and to the right is another example of the media using a phrase to relay a message about this unattainable body expectation set up for women. Victoria’s Secret released this advertisement in order to promote their new bra collect, Body by Victoria. The caption on the photo reads, “The Perfect ‘Body’. Perfect Fit. Perfect Comfort. Perfect Soft.” Victoria’s Secret has made it quite clear in this advertisement that their goal is perfection. Looking specifically at the first portion of their caption, “The Perfect ‘Body””, it is somewhat obvious that this quote has a double meaning. The objective of this advertisement is to relay that their bra is perfect but it is also sending the message that in order to have a perfect body, one must look like the models that are present in advertisement. Critics have commented that the ad is “offensive and damaging to women”¹. In response to the release of this ad more than 26,000 people signed a petition calling on Victoria's Secret to apologize and terminate the campaign¹. 

            Along with using certain words or phrases in order to convey this “ideal” body, media will also use celebrities or models that are viewed as influential. The media has given society the idea of what a beautiful body should look like through the use of models and celebrities. In fashion shows the models who are walking the runways and seen in ads are typically very thin and tall. How realistic is it  for all women to have a body such as the models in the photo to the left? All of these women are successful, high fashion models, but what message are they sending to society about how one should look while wearing these designers’ clothes? They contribute to the idea that in order to be “in style” and beautiful you must be a certain size, shape and height. Ultra-thin models are so prominent that exposure to them becomes unavoidable and 'chronic', constantly reinforcing a discrepancy for most women and girls between their actual size and the ideal body². In order for models to achieve the bodies they engage in activities that manipulate or shape their bodies³. This isn’t only the case for models. Many actresses and celebrities are communicating the same thing with their bodies due to the media. A lot of women, especially young girls, look up to these women as role models, which ends up causing several issues. Actresses and celebrities promoting these unrealistic body images can cause women to have lower self-confidence and change how they view themselves in comparison to models, such as the ones shown above.

            The media has turned to a new type of technology in order to maintain the “ideal” body image it has created for women. Photoshop allows the media to change certain aspects of the models or celebrities body in order to achieve a certain look. For example, look at the picture to the right. This is a before and after photo of a women who was obviously subject to the effects of Photoshop. In the picture the models midsection, arms, legs, and skin tone have been dramatically altered, but why? The media is sending the message to the viewers of this photo that the farther left picture is not acceptable in regards to the woman’s body. This photo has been altered in order to fit the ideal body shape that has been constructed by the media. According to a survey that was done in the UK, Fifteen percent of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed, were convinced that the images of models and celebrities in advertisements, magazines and billboards accurately depict what these women look like in real life⁴. That is truly concerning due to the fact that the majority of women, including those celebrities and models, do not have the same body shape as the ones projected in the media. This has been a huge issue due to Photoshop. It was also reported that “33% of the women polled also feel the body they aspire towards is not possible for them to achieve” as a result of Photoshop⁴.  Writer Michael Graupman comments “perhaps it is time for a refresher course for the media and Americans of what Photoshop was created for originally: bringing a subject more into focus, not creating works of fiction"⁵.

            The “ideal” body image and idea of beauty that has been created by the media is devastating to women and their confidence. This has lead many women to taking unhealthy measures to obtain this idea of beauty and has emotionally damaged those who cannot.  The media uses methods that we see in our everyday life in order to send this message such as through phrases or slogans in ads, taking advantage of the influence celebrities and models have, and by the use of Photoshop. The media uses these methods in order to create the idea that one must have a particular body shape or size in to fit the standard of beauty.

        

Sources:

1.     Peterson, Haley. "Victoria's Secret Ditches 'Perfect Body' Campaign After Outrage." N.p., 6 Nov. 2014. Web. 14 Dec. 2014

http://www.businessinsider.com/victorias-secret-perfect-body-campaign-2014-11#ixzz3M0BjXDj2

2.     Serdar, Kasey. "Female Body Image and the Mass Media: Perspectives on How Women Internalize the Ideal Beauty Standard." The Myriad: Westminster's Undergraduate Academic Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014

http://www.westminstercollege.edu/myriad/index.cfm?parent=...&detail=4475&content=4795

3.     "Body Image and the Media." Canadian Women's Health Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.

http://www.cwhn.ca/node/40776

4.     Vagianos, Alanna. "Survey Proves We Still Really Need To Talk About Photoshop." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/27/photoshop-survey-women_n_4350263.html

5.     Diller, Ph.D. Vivian. "Is Photoshop Destroying America's Body Image?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Aug. 2011. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vivian-diller-phd/photoshop-body-image_b_891095.html

Pictures:

1.     http://thenew1037.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2010/03/19/hottest-female-country-artist-magazine-covers/leann-rimes-shape-magazine/

2.     http://nypost.com/2014/10/31/victorias-secret-perfect-body-campaign-sparks-backlash/

3.     http://www.vanityhousefitness.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Skinny-models.jpg

4.     http://www.ibtimes.com/truth-advertising-gains-support-photoshop-regulation-tall-order-1602702

My Tough Mudder Experience

I’ve never been confident in my physical abilities and have never viewed myself as being strong or capable of completely anything physically demanding. I was never particularly good at any sport while growing up besides being apart of the Cincinnati Ballet. When ballet I mentioned, typically ones first thoughts are very feminine, delicate, and graceful. When my brother participated in sports such as football he was described as strong, aggressive and powerful. I always knew that’s how I wanted people to view what I did. I wanted to prove not only to other but to myself that I could be strong, powerful, and aggressive.  I also wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish anything that I had put my mind to and trained for. This is what led to my decision to participate in the Tough Mudder.

Tough Mudder is a twelve-mile mud course with twenty-five military obstacles. This is described to be “one of toughest obstacle courses in the world”. Tough Mudder is typically completed by men in their twenties who are also extremely physically fit. As a young female who was not near as physically fit I felt pretty uncomfortable, doubtful and anxious. The purpose to the Tough Mudder events is for people to prove to themselves that they are capable of accomplish such a challenging goal if they stay dedicated and really put the effort and hard work into achieving that goal. I wanted to be able to share that experience with many other finishers of the Tough Mudder obstacle course.

After months of intense training and preparation, a few of my athletic male friends and I had arrived at race day. When we arrived to the course my nervous were running wild after seeing the other competitors. I found myself immediately questioning my abilities and doubting my chance at completing this rigorous course. I felt out of place and as if the other competitors were questioning my presence at the event. Regardless, I completed the course with all the physically fit men and preformed at the same level. It was an extremely gratifying and amazing experience.

As mentioned, the goal of this event is to prove to one’s self that one is capable of anything. The event always is extremely encouraging of camaraderie. After completing the event I realized how much support and encouragement I had received from the fellow competitors. I found myself wondering I had such negative feelings about the other competitors before and made such a strong assumption. I left this event raising several important questions to myself and with valuable lessons.

Events such as the Tough Mudder are important to be involved in. It is important in life to reach out of ones comfort zone and accomplish something that didn’t seem possible. It completely changed my way of thinking and has led me to grow as a person. We have the freedom and ability to participate in events such as the Tough Mudder, so why not be apart of something different? It is important for us as citizens to express our freedoms, explore, and to challenge our beliefs and ourselves.  

            

Violating Gender Norms

          When comparing men and women, the gender norm personalities of each differ quite a bit. It is expected that men have a more assertive, outgoing, and blunt personality where as women are thought to be quite, delicate, and more introverted. Due to the personality norm for men, it is not shocking when a man is caught cat calling a woman. As women, we have all probably experienced being catcalled at least one in our life. We tend to ignore the comments because we have become accustomed to this type of behavior from men (not all men).  But why do men do this? It is mostly assumed it is done for a sense of power or in the hope that the catcalling will actually work. Men are naturally more aggressive and like the idea of control in situations, which catcalling provides them. Since most men don’t seem to have an issue with catcalling, what prevents more women from catcalling men?

            My group and I were extremely interested in discovering why it was more unusual for women to catcall men, how people would react to women catcalling men, and how it felt for a man to be catcalled by a women. In order to answer these questions my group and I held an experiment where we would have women catcalling men. We went about this by having five women sit at a dinner table together in the dorm dinning hall at five o’clock, which is the busiest time in the dinning hall. We also had two of our group members who are men sit at a table nearby. We had previously informed and arranged for about 8 men to pass our dinner table of women in order to us to catcall them. We decided to use informed men as the ones being catcalled to avoid any possible harassment charges. We had the men pass our dinner table one at a time, walking with a large group of people. We used a serious of catcalls from the video I have posted below to.

            After the experiment was finished we were interested in the reactions of those around us and how the men who were being catcalled (victims) felt. Not to a surprise, most the responses that this experiment evoked were negative. It was reported that we had received several disapproving and confused looks from the groups of people who were walking with the victims while they were being catcalled. There was a table of men close by our table of women who seemed to be extremely judgmental and upset due to us women catcalling. There was a table of football players nearby who also responded extremely negatively. Their responses were “What the fuck is going?” and “What the hell?” This shows that they were obviously shocked by us women catcalling and curious as to why we were. Although we received many upset, disgusted, and confused looks, no one directly said anything to our group of girls catcalling or tried to correct our behavior.

            After the experiment we asked the victims how they felt being catcalled and being apart of this project. Most of them described how they felt weird, uncomfortable and surprised even though they were aware of the project. The victims also commented on how they felt as if more attention was brought upon them after being catcalled. They felt as if it was a mixture of positive and negative attention. One victim remarked that he felt weird while being catcalled because it was abnormal for him to receive compliments in such a manner because usually they were insults.

            Breaking this gender norm made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I, along with the other girls, felt very nervous about being so assertive by catcalling men. I felt though as most of my catcalls sounded unintentionally aggressive. I can attribute this back to nerves, trying to be vocally louder, and possibly trying to imitate the way I feel men catcall.  In our society it is not the norm for women to be so outspoken and direct about something, such as catcalling and showing interest in someone that way. Women are expected to be more timid and introverted, which is exactly how I felt during this experiment. I didn’t like having attention put on me and I was worried about the people around would perceive me due to my actions.

            This experiment really reinforces the presence of gender inequality a gender norms.  It is seen as normal and even justified for men to catcall, but when the group of female and I catcalled men, we received a much different response. Why is this seen as okay for men to do but not women? Why is it justifiable for men? It could possibly be the way the way socialized to always assume power, dominance, and confidence, where as women are not socialized in the same way.  This may be a small representation of gender inequality but it proves that it is still and issue in our society.

           

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8uOErVShiE

Funny Extra Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUJ24mblCLY

Everyday Sociology: The Double Standard of Beauty

In the blog post “Beauty and the Double Standard of Aging” written by Lisa Wade, PhD, she touches on the difference in aging expectation in regards to attractiveness between men and women. She discuses how both young boys are girls are culturally viewed the same way concerning attractiveness. They both have a delicate beauty that is fragile until they are no longer in the early part of the life cycle. Boys then transition into the second standard, which is being a man. The cultural standard is that men are rougher, thicker, and lose their innocent smooth and hairless skin. Both of these stages are viewed equally in attractiveness and are happily welcomed. This is not quite the case for girls making the transition to being women. The same expectation is held throughout a women’s life without any second equivalent step. Women are still culturally expected to have soft, clear, wrinkleless skin. Women are taught to continue to strive to look as they did as young girls. 

This has always been an issue within our culture; therefore many of us do not see it as an issue. Many aren’t aware of how different these standards are and how truly unfair they are.  This blog post brings to realization that women are held to such high and nearly impossible standards of beauty, where as men are able to happily accept both stages of their physical appearance changes in life. I never put much thought to how women are expected to maintain many of the same physical appearance traits as from when they are young girls before puberty that is made point in this blog post. That expectation is impossible because throughout life, the body does make inevitable changes. Why is it that only women are held to this standard of beauty?

This idea of beauty for women is constantly supported by society, especially in the media. When looking at ads in magazines or TV commercials, all of the women have flawless skin, no wrinkles, are thin, and so on. Is that what real a woman is suppose to look like? This is a question that is being asked by all girls and women who are being exposed to these types of advertisements. In most ads and TV commercials the women are photo shopped in order to attempt to meet the idea that our culture has set for the beauty of women. This ends up setting women up for failure as they attempt to reach this impossible standard of beauty. What is this doing to the young girls and women in our society? How is this affecting their confidence and their performance rates in society?

This double standard of beauty is an issue that can no longer be overlooked.. Having this standard of beauty for women that is impossible to obtain takes a large toll on a women’s confidence, which in turn leads to less confidence in other areas than appearance such as ability in the work place and place in society. This double standard has a greater impact than many are aware of. It is important that this information and truth be spread through out society so that this double standard is no longer present.

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/02/04/susan-sontag-on-the-three-standards-of-beauty-girl-boy-and-man/