Body Image
People are bombarded with messages about how they 'should' look and what kind of person they 'should' be. Trying to meet these expectations drains our time, energy and the contents of our wallets! When we find it's impossible to look the way we're told we should look, we can find ourselves thinking "I look terrible". No matter what the current trend is, the beauty ideal has nothing to do with reality. In reality, people come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which are determined mainly by their genetic makeup.
Body Image and the Media
Today's advertisers go to huge lengths to sell products and to convince men and women that their bodies are never good enough. Female models are typically tall, thin, young, white and appear "perfect". More and more, male models are lean, very muscular and equally "perfect" in their appearance.
Media Tricks:
-
Body features are enhanced with props, lighting, and by computers
-
Shapes and sizes are changed
-
Blemishes, freckles, lines, wrinkles, skin folds and any other unwanted features are edited out
-
Body features from different images are combined to create the "perfect" image
-
Body doubles are used in films when the body parts of the lead actors don't measure up to the "perfect" image
-
Photo images can be completely computer generated to fit the look of the day.
Questions to consider when viewing advertisements:
- Are there any "media tricks" being used in the advertisement?
- What is being actually being sold? Is is a product or a feeling?
Ways to be Ad Savvy
- Mute the advertisement, and then try to guess what the ad is saying. You can also listen to the ad and close your eyes and try to guess what is being shown.
- Try to point out when an advertisement is unrealistic or is promoting stereotypes.
- Remeber that advertisements are used to sell something. Remember that an advertisement is a tool that companies use to make money.
- Be conscious of how an ad makes you feel. Is an ad trying to make you feel ugly, or does an ad try to show how their product can make you happy?
- Be aware of all advertisements. Advertisemetns are found during commercials, but can also be found during movies, on billboards, in magazines, the radio, and even on the sides of buses.
Teenage Pressure
Statistics
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1/2 of all preadolescent girls wish to be thinner and as a result have engaged in dieting or are aware of the concept of dieting.
-
In 2003, 35% of girls ages 6-12 years old have been on atleast one diet
-
50-70% of normal size girls believe they are overweight
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90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way
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1/4 of college-aged women use some unhealthy method of weight control
Healthy Weight Ranges
Female Male
|
Height |
Small Frame |
Medium Frame |
Large Frame |
Height |
Small Frame |
Medium Frame |
Large Frame |
|
4'10" |
102-111 |
109-121 |
118-131 |
5'2" |
128-134 |
131-141 |
138-150 |
|
4'11" |
103-113 |
111-123 |
120-134 |
5'3" |
130-136 |
133-143 |
140-153 |
|
5'0" |
104-115 |
113-126 |
122-137 |
5'4" |
132-138 |
135-145 |
142-156 |
|
5'1" |
106-118 |
115-129 |
125-140 |
5'5" |
134-140 |
137-148 |
144-160 |
|
5'2" |
108-121 |
118-132 |
128-143 |
5'6" |
136-142 |
139-151 |
146-164 |
|
5'3" |
111-124 |
121-135 |
131-147 |
5'7" |
138-145 |
142-154 |
149-168 |
|
5'4" |
114-127 |
124-138 |
134-151 |
5'8" |
140-148 |
145-157 |
152-172 |
|
5'5" |
117-130 |
127-141 |
137-155 |
5'9" |
142-151 |
148-160 |
155-176 |
|
5'6" |
120-133 |
130-144 |
140-159 |
5'10" |
144-154 |
151-163 |
158-180 |
|
5'7" |
123-136 |
133-147 |
143-163 |
5'11" |
146-157 |
154-166 |
161-184 |
|
5'8" |
126-139 |
136-150 |
146-167 |
6'0" |
149-160 |
157-170 |
164-188 |
|
5'9" |
129-142 |
139-153 |
149-170 |
6'1" |
152-164 |
160-174 |
168-192 |
|
5'10" |
132-145 |
142-156 |
152-173 |
6'2" |
155-168 |
164-178 |
172-197 |
|
5'11" |
135-148 |
145-159 |
155-176 |
|
Helpful Links & Bibliography:
Body Image Health
National Eating Disorders
Healthy Weight Network
Body Positive Resources
Media Literacy Project
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=240&np=298&id=2086
http://www.media-awareness.ca
Created By:
Brian Fischer & Rob Gogerty
Montclair State University
9/22/2008
