Media and the Numbers

The numbers are scary to look at. The influence the media has over body image and self esteem is astronomical. You never really think that people are that susceptible to advertising, but we are. Teens, adolescents, women, men, we all are blasted with "you should be this" or "you should look this way" or "people will like you if you look this way" everyday.

It's not even just advertising, it's in movies and television and books and magazines.

One study found that the schematic association of attractiveness and thinness with goodness was present in over 100 female characters appearing in 23 Walt Disney animated films.

Another study found that almost 70% of the adolescent girls asked stated that pictures in magazines influence their conception of the “perfect” body shape, and over 45% indicated that those images motivated them to lose weight.

In a study on fifth graders, 10 year old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show "Friends".

Statistics show that the media is stereotyping "beauty" and "attractiveness" into tiny groups of people. Yes, some people are 5'7", 117lbs. But most people aren't. And those people ARE still beautiful and should feel that way.

Is it okay that today's fashion models weigh 23% less than the average female, and a young woman between the ages of 18-34 has a 7% chance of being as slim as a catwalk model and a 1% chance of being as thin as a supermodel. However, 69% of girls in one study said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape. Why are we trying to make these already beautiful, normal girls strive to be something they aren't?

Yes, eating disorders are an extreme result of this impact. But they happen. To millions of people in our country. And those who don't develop eating disorders still have a sad body image. They shouldn't. The media and the public should be promoting inner beauty, being a good caring person. Not spending billions of dollars in diet and cosmetic advertisements.

I want to prove that this happens even to people in our area. I'm going to go around asking people some questions. I'll get back to you.