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
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
3.
"Body Image and the
Media." Canadian Women's Health Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
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.
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/
No comments:
Post a Comment