Media Influences Females To Change Their Appearance

Media Influences on Media Influences on Physical AppearancePhysical Appearance

Sociology:Mr. Miers

Did you ever think what posses Did you ever think what posses you to dye your hair, go tanning, you to dye your hair, go tanning,

go to the gym?go to the gym?

MediaMediaHere’s Why?

Look closely at Reality TV ShowsLook closely at Reality TV Shows

• Bachelor Bachelor • American IdolAmerican Idol• America’s Next Top America’s Next Top

ModelModel• Deal or No DealDeal or No Deal

……these are just a these are just a fewfew

Women much more than men have learned from adds, movies, Women much more than men have learned from adds, movies, and TV shows that, they must constantly put themselves under and TV shows that, they must constantly put themselves under

surveillance.surveillance.

Many women that are dissatisfied with their Many women that are dissatisfied with their appearance result to bad habits such as eating appearance result to bad habits such as eating

disorders and cosmetic surgeries to help them gain disorders and cosmetic surgeries to help them gain the perfect image.the perfect image.

• Lindsay LohanLindsay Lohan• Nicole RichieNicole Richie• Mary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate Olsen

•Paris HiltonParis Hilton

•Pamela Pamela AndersonAnderson

•Ashley SimpsonAshley Simpson

All struggled with eating disorders All struggled with eating disorders whilewhile

Have undergone Have undergone cosmetic surgery. cosmetic surgery.

How this effects the How this effects the public?public?

• ““According to the American Society According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), over 6,000 teenagers nationwide have over 6,000 teenagers nationwide have undergone cosmetic surgery”undergone cosmetic surgery”

“Nose reshaping is the Nose reshaping is the most common surgery most common surgery among teenager girls but among teenager girls but breast reduction and breast reduction and enhancement does not fall enhancement does not fall far behind.”far behind.”

.

• The media portrays the perfect The media portrays the perfect body image as tall, skinny, big body image as tall, skinny, big breast with flat stomach. Much like breast with flat stomach. Much like the popular doll Barbie.the popular doll Barbie.

~Young girls believe that women Young girls believe that women are supposed to look like Barbie. are supposed to look like Barbie. What people don’t know is that What people don’t know is that someone like Barbie would someone like Barbie would completely be disproportionate. completely be disproportionate.

But here is what’s wrong with But here is what’s wrong with Barbie..Barbie..

~Her breasts ~Her breasts alone would force alone would force her to be hunched her to be hunched over.over.

““Happy To Be Me Happy To Be Me Doll”Doll”

Today, dieting is only a little part of Today, dieting is only a little part of gaining the perfect image. (AKA gaining the perfect image. (AKA

Barbie)Barbie)

•Working out is not Working out is not uncommon in uncommon in today’s society and today’s society and has become part of has become part of almost everyone’s almost everyone’s daily routine.daily routine.

The results of our survey informed us that 65% of The results of our survey informed us that 65% of teenagers go to the gym on an average basis and teenagers go to the gym on an average basis and

35% don’t.35% don’t.

65.00%

35.00%

Yes

No

Did you Did you knowknow??

• Approximately seven million girls and Approximately seven million girls and women struggle with eating disorders.women struggle with eating disorders.

•Many picture we see in magazines such Many picture we see in magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Victoria’s Secret, as Cosmopolitan, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie are airbrushed. Abercrombie are airbrushed. “Unattainable Beauty”“Unattainable Beauty”

•In the 1950’s, Marilyn Monroe was In the 1950’s, Marilyn Monroe was considered the epitome of beauty and considered the epitome of beauty and yet she was a size 16.- The perfect yet she was a size 16.- The perfect woman’s figure in the 50’s was a guitar woman’s figure in the 50’s was a guitar shape, now it’s a hour glassshape, now it’s a hour glass

ContinuedContinued……

• In 1975, top models and In 1975, top models and beauty queens weighed beauty queens weighed only 8% less than only 8% less than average woman while average woman while today’s beauty queens today’s beauty queens and models weigh at and models weigh at least 23% less than the least 23% less than the average woman.average woman.

•Our standard normal Our standard normal body size has become so body size has become so thin, that average weight thin, that average weight people are being people are being considered abnormal.considered abnormal.

Once again Once again ContinuedContinued……

• The height and weight The height and weight charts that we are charts that we are familiar with has familiar with has recently adopted a recently adopted a new lower cutoff point new lower cutoff point for “overweight”. The for “overweight”. The result would be that at result would be that at least 55% of least 55% of Americans are now Americans are now over weight.over weight.

It’s not over till the fat Lady It’s not over till the fat Lady sings..sings..

• It is no doubt that TV, movies, and It is no doubt that TV, movies, and magazines play an important role in shaping magazines play an important role in shaping the way women and men view their bodies. the way women and men view their bodies. People are always going to be concerned People are always going to be concerned with whether they are too tall, too fat, too with whether they are too tall, too fat, too short, or too... If the media continues this short, or too... If the media continues this way, there will be an on going battle with way, there will be an on going battle with ourselves and an even greater increase in ourselves and an even greater increase in the drastic measures people will take to try the drastic measures people will take to try and make themselves physically attractive and make themselves physically attractive

After presenting my Size It Up program for a couple years and highlighting how we are bombarded with unrealistic and perfected images of the female body, I was challenged to present a more "gender balanced" message. I sent my colleague’s mother on a mission to purchase a older model GI JoeTM that I could then compare to a modern version of the action figure toy. I would like to thank Mary Kushel of Cheyenne for her diligence in finding a 1960's GI Joe (photo attached). Although the body measurement comparisons of GI JoeTM from the 1960's to the year 2001 are shocking enough, the pictures are what really bring attention to the idea that narrowly defined and unrealistic body "ideal" standards are now promoted for both females and males.

•Computer scanning equipment allows computer technicians to scan images like a BarbieTM doll into a computer program and estimate body measurements. Body measurement estimates for BarbieTM include a height of 6'9" with a 20 inch waist and a 41 inch bust. •Using computer scanning equipment, body measurement estimates for GI JoeTM include a height of 5'10" tall. Height measurements for GI JoeTM have remained relatively unchanged for the last 40 years. •Biceps measurements for GI JoeTM have changed dramatically in the last 40 years. The biceps measurement from the 1960's is estimated at 12 inches. The biceps measurement increased over 100% in 40 years to a measurement of about 27" in the year 2001. •The chest measurement of GI JoeTM increased from about 44 inches in the 1960's to 55 inches 40 years later. •The increase in muscularity of the GI JoeTM action figure over the last 40 years is more dramatic than measurements alone can indicate (see attached photos).

2001                                              1960s

                        ⇘                                                           ⇙ 

More Drastic Measures

• Botox Parties

Plastic Surgery

Steroid Use