Body Image Pressure Essay

In her article “Never Just Pictures,” author Susan Bordo analyzes how deeply teenage girls of today are effectively told how to look by mass media. Girls of the 21st century are constantly struggling with their own confidence and overall happiness simply due to the celebrities they see on TV and in magazines. Today, women are subconsciously told what the ‘perfect body’ is and anything less than that means that they are unwanted and fat. Bordo specifically described the experience of the 19 year-old Clueless actress, Alicia Silverstone, whom the tabloids consistently referred to as ‘fatgirl’ and ‘buttgirl.’ Bordo described that once a young woman is told that she is not worthy or that she is fat, countless psychological issues arise and begin

The media plays a huge part in the lives of teenage girls, from cheesy teen fashion magazines to model runway fashion shows, teens are constantly put under stress to look, dress, act, and even feel a certain way about themselves, but how can this actually affect them in the short term and the long term? Studies by Dr Nadia Micali, of the Institute of Child Health, University College, London show that up to one in ten girls from age 12-19 had an eating disorder, the pressures of modern day vain have almost consumed the mental health of a whole generation. "I know this is going to sound weird," Cassie confesses, "but when I eat too much junk food, I'm so guilty I actually hate myself. I'm the kind of person who has plenty

There has been a growing trend of hypersexualization of women over the span of all forms of media. The women within these images are made to look perfectly flawless. They are extremely thin without a trace of fat or cellulite to be found. The people who consume this media are exposed to the idea that the women they are observing are models for true physical beauty. These standards are accompanied by an alternate message from the media that pushes the idea that women’s value comes from their beauty. While some women may understand that the messages about the ideal woman are unrealistic and false, it is found that adolescent girls are vulnerable to the media’s strategies due to their lack of media literacy as well as the search for their own identity during this developmental stage in their lives. The exposure to these standards of beauty can have several negative effects on the girls such as lower self-esteem, higher body dissatisfaction, depression, and eating disorders. SPARK and 4 Every Girl are two of a growing number of campaigns that are working to fight against the sexualized images of women in the media and the negative effects it can have on the viewers.

Under society’s norms for decades, girls have been put under the pressure and expectation to have perfect bodies. That is, thin and curved, beautified by applying pounds of makeup to their face but not appear ridiculously overdone. Where do these unreachable standards come from? When a young girl hears the model on the cover of Vogue being called flawless it’s easy for her to then aspire to be a real-life replica of the photoshop. These companies spit out magazine covers plastered with girls’ idols daily. As if maintaining the perfect body wasn’t hard enough our culture also forces girls into the forever expanding world of makeup, however, body image is a pressing issue for girls. Ads and posters of skinny female models are everywhere. Young girls not only could be better but need to be better and feel forced to have the perfect physique. Girls are evaluated and oppressed by their physical appearances. With accessories and apparel designed to enhance a look; social media, magazines, and marketing campaigns and advertisements add to the burden of perfection. The fashion industry is a prime target of body image issues, as they believe clothes look better on tall and slim women. Based on a survey participated by 13 to 17-year-old in the U.S., 90% “felt pressured by fashion and media industries to be skinny”, with more than 60% habitually compare themselves to models, while 46% will strive to achieve it. Furthermore, the severity of this matter continues to

Self-esteem plays a big part of body image. People have to feel good about themselves and be comfortable in their own skin to be happy. In today's world, it feels almost impossible to be happy, this generation is all about the media which makes having self-esteem 10x harder. Millions of pictures are posted of expectations of how women should look. In an article written by Pavica Sheldon, she states that ”The average American woman is 5’4 and 140 pounds, whereas the average female model portrayed in the media is 5’11 and 120 pounds”. Women are placed into a box telling them they have to look a certain way and if they don't they're simply not good enough. Besides being put into a category women numerously get called nasty names like slut or whore if they show too much. Piggy and fatty if they're overweight. Or “stick” if she's too skinny. Nothing is ever good enough is what it feels like. For example, Kylie Jenner, if you grew up watching “Keeping up with the Kardashians” you know how she looked before all the plastic surgery she got done, she now looks completely different. An account wrote, “What are they giving Kylie?” and someone quoted the tweet and said plastic. So even if women try to fix their imperfections they still get shamed down for it by calling them fake.

Girls are not walking barbies, they are people who have emotions.So what do you think about the media and society putting “Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have ‘Perfect’ Bodies?” Girls are human with emotions and they have so much pressure on them to look perfect so that many get stressed out about it. It is not fair for them to be judged about. Girls as young as 7 to 12 years are at risk of negative body images that can lead to eating disorders, drinking, acting out sexually, suicide and bullying. We can help them if we try.Girls should not be pressured into have the perfect body because it stressful all the time for girls not wear something and think that they aren't going to get made fun of for wearing it, also they are depressed for getting made fun of and it's not ok for them to have to go through this.

Researchers have discovered that “ongoing exposure to certain ideas can shape and distort our perceptions on reality.” (Mintz 2007) Because young girls are subjected to a constant display of beautiful people in the media, they have developed a negative body image of themselves. Those who have a negative body image perceive their body as being unattractive or even hideous compared to others, while those with a positive body image will see themselves as attractive, or will at least accept themselves and be comfortable in their own skin. During adolescence, negative body image is especially harmful because of the quick changes both physically and mentally occurring during puberty. Also, young girls are becoming more and more exposed to the media and the media keeps getting more and more provocative. Young girls are looking to women with unrealistic body shapes as role models. It’s hard to find, in today’s media, a “normal” looking

Under society’s customs for decades, young women have found themselves immersed in the pressure and anticipation to have exemplary bodies. Nearly every young woman prefers to be slim, have a perfectly shaped body, that is beautified by applying pounds of makeup to their face but does not appear ridiculously overdone. Who’s responsible for these measures imposed on young women? When a young girl picks up the model on the cover of Vogue being called flawless, naturally it’s easy for her to then aspire to be a real-life imitation of the that model. These companies produce magazine covers shown with girls’ images daily. As if keeping the perfect body wasn’t hard enough, our culture also forces girls into the forever expanding world of composition, however, body image is a surging subject for young girls. Advertisements and pictures of lean female models are all over. Young women are measured and perplexed by their physical appearances with attire intended to raise their physical structures; social media, magazines, the society, marketing campaigns, advertisements, and the fashion gurus add to a strand of excellence.

Furthermore, media surrounds teenage girls in today’s culture. It is impossible to escape the sight of media. The media’s constant idealistic beauty is ever present to a vast amount of self-conscious girls. This image of beauty causes girls to have low self-esteem (Clay, Vignoles, and Dittmar). Media defining this perfect body image causes many adolescent girls to feel dissatisfied with their bodies and become depressed. “Viewing ultra-thin or average-size models led to decreases in both body satisfaction and self-esteem in adolescent girls aged eleven to sixteen, with changes in self-esteem fully mediated by changes in body satisfaction” (Clay, Vignoles, and Dittmar).

Body image has become a topic of conversation, with girls as young as five years old. Their conversations consist of their freckled complexion, the color of their hair, and even worse, their weight compared to others. The fact that at such a young age they are already finding concern and dissatisfaction with looks, can be alarming. With images of unattainably thin and flawless bodies scattered all over the media, there is no wonder that our younger generation is questioning their beauty and image. These images appear all around; on bill boards, in magazines, on television

It’s almost impossible to ignore the many images of thin beautiful women. When turning the pages of a popular magazine, women are being invited by the ads and spreads to look a certain way, thin. What girls don’t see is that the average size of women today is a size 16 not a 6. Models look beautiful for a reason. They have hair stylists, makeup artists, wardrobe people, and skin care specialists to make them look that way. Besides that they have the best photographers in the world. Beauty and fashion ads don’t just sell a product they sell a lifestyle. Many adolescents can be influenced to have a positive body image despite all of the negative media influences. Many magazines designed especially for adolescent girls, such as American Girl, focus on positive outlooks on the young girl’s lifestyle. American Girl Magazine says “Girls in this age group are more curious about the world than ever before. They’re beginning to consider the impact they can have on the people around them, on the environment, and on their future. All the while, they’re undergoing profound biological changes. Adolescent girls are entering one of the most challenging and complex phases of her life so far. Our advice titles include expert guidance on serious topics, such as The Care & Keeping of You and Staying Home Alone. In its eleventh

Have you ever felt pressured to look a certain way after looking at a magazine or scrolling through Instagram? Sense of not feeling pretty enough, you lose just a couple of pounds, or you would be closer to perfect? Remember your mom telling you, “you should not have eaten those seconds, it is a lot of carbs,” her voice plays in your head. You feel upset and belittled when you remember your best friend complaining she now wears a size two in jeans, while you wear a seven. You find yourself disappointed and ashamed. This situation is all too familiar with young girls in today's society. Girls often feel unhappy with themselves for many

Social media has a huge impact on a teen’s impressionable minds, since teens are bombarded with the pressures of buying the newest devices and apps; But not only does social media pressure teen’s to buy these items, it also pressures them to have the “Perfect Body”. In today’s society we have been influenced by celebrities and the media’s ideas of what the “Perfect Body” is. Whenever we go on our favorite apps, you are bound to find an ad featuring a popular celebrity (or model), posing with a waist shapers (or FitTea) (and/or photoshopped to a point where they are unrecognizable); (When teens see this, this makes teens think differently about

With the media being a very popular way of communication and self expression in today’s culture, it influences the way of younger generations to be more involved in today’s technology, and to allow them to influence the world by the press of a button. But one of the topics that is very controversial is that in today’s society is the high expectations of what they think a girl has to look like, from girls not having stretch marks or scars, to magazines and photographers using photoshop to convince readers that the model looks like that. With all of these being factors that there is pressure is high for many girls around the world, this has to resolved.

When girls are exposed at a young age to the stereotypes of media, they begins to believe differences and flaws are bad. This exposure causes them to morph into what they are told is “ideal”. According to nationally uses research from the university of Texas “the average american woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and 166 pounds...most female models are 5 feet 11 inches and usually wear a size double zero to zero at 107 pounds” (2016). That means that the average model is very underweight based off of their BMI (body mass index). Girls see these model and believe that is what they must look like. They will label anyone including themselves who does not have the body of a model fat, ugly, gross and unhealthy. In reality as those girls strive for a “perfect” body they become unhealthy and grotesquely thin. Social media’s stereotypes send a bad message to young