Over eighty percent of women in the United States are dissatisfied with their appearance (Ross). In today’s society women are constantly being told that they have to fit the standards of the ideal woman in order to be considered beautiful. Some of these standards include having light eyes, blonde hair, perfect teeth, flawless, tan skin, long legs, and a well-proportioned figure and are often times impossible for most women in the U.S. to attain (Sherrow). Women who do not fit under these criteria are often prone to eating disorders, depression, or anxiety and may find it difficult to develop a positive body image. Many researchers have concluded that media is one of the main causes of these unrealistic standards that women are held to (Sherrow). Photo manipulation, cosmetic surgery, and models are all found in media and are the three main contributors to unrealistic body image for women.
Media has evolved greatly over the past few decades due to the growth of electronics outlets available. Although the prevalence of new media outlets can be very beneficial, it can also have negative impacts on society. Photo manipulation is the digital enhancement of photos that is used to make the appearance of a photo of a better quality (Admin). Digitally enhanced images are found all over the media and can be deceptive to people who may view them. Cosmetic surgery is a reconstructive surgery used to improve the appearance of one’s face or body (Plastic). Images of people who have not only undergone cosmetic surgery, but also openly talked about it are also found all over the media. Celebrities, who appear very frequently in the media, possess many of the unrealistic standards for women often due to photo manipulation and cosmetic surgery. Media depicts these flawless and thin women as ideal which creates unrealistic expectations for women of all ages (Holmstrom). Photo Manipulation is found in the media and is one of the three main contributors to unrealistic body image for women. Photo manipulation, also known as digital manipulation or photoshopping, is a strategy magazine editors and media executors use in order to make models look young, thin, and have gorgeous, blemish free and wrinkle free skin (Admin). Companies use digitally altered photos in advertisements in order to sell a product. These advertisements, featuring unusually thin and young women, are commonly found in magazines, on television, online, and in public (Admin). Many companies believe that the use of manipulated photos will allure customers into buying their products, but do not realize the negative psychological effects it can have on women all across …show more content…
What women are seeing in the media is fake and is an impossible version of beauty for all women to achieve and may cause some women to develop harmful behaviors. Eating disorders are found to be directly linked to the way women are portrayed in the media (Vaynshteyn). Women of all ages, young developing girls especially, may choose to participate in unhealthy eating patterns or even self-induced vomiting, also known as bulimia nervosa, in attempt to control their body weight (Hellmich). The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies and can seriously harm themselves trying to emulate what is derived from this ideal
Media has evolved greatly over the past few decades due to the growth of electronics outlets available. Although the prevalence of new media outlets can be very beneficial, it can also have negative impacts on society. Photo manipulation is the digital enhancement of photos that is used to make the appearance of a photo of a better quality (Admin). Digitally enhanced images are found all over the media and can be deceptive to people who may view them. Cosmetic surgery is a reconstructive surgery used to improve the appearance of one’s face or body (Plastic). Images of people who have not only undergone cosmetic surgery, but also openly talked about it are also found all over the media. Celebrities, who appear very frequently in the media, possess many of the unrealistic standards for women often due to photo manipulation and cosmetic surgery. Media depicts these flawless and thin women as ideal which creates unrealistic expectations for women of all ages (Holmstrom). Photo Manipulation is found in the media and is one of the three main contributors to unrealistic body image for women. Photo manipulation, also known as digital manipulation or photoshopping, is a strategy magazine editors and media executors use in order to make models look young, thin, and have gorgeous, blemish free and wrinkle free skin (Admin). Companies use digitally altered photos in advertisements in order to sell a product. These advertisements, featuring unusually thin and young women, are commonly found in magazines, on television, online, and in public (Admin). Many companies believe that the use of manipulated photos will allure customers into buying their products, but do not realize the negative psychological effects it can have on women all across …show more content…
What women are seeing in the media is fake and is an impossible version of beauty for all women to achieve and may cause some women to develop harmful behaviors. Eating disorders are found to be directly linked to the way women are portrayed in the media (Vaynshteyn). Women of all ages, young developing girls especially, may choose to participate in unhealthy eating patterns or even self-induced vomiting, also known as bulimia nervosa, in attempt to control their body weight (Hellmich). The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies and can seriously harm themselves trying to emulate what is derived from this ideal