Size Zero Advertisements Effects On Women

Researchers who have done content analysis of girls’ magazines suggest that unrealistic beauty images and focus on traditional femininity may damage girls’ self-esteem. (Melissa A. Milkie. 191). Upon years of looking in the mirror and not liking what they have seen, young women often become unhappy to the point of depression when comparing themselves to those with a more developed body image (Meg Kramer). Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and affects how you feel, think, behave, and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Statistics prove that the strongest risk factor for suicide is depression and 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide (ANAD). Constant unhappiness with appearance can cause an individual to have a mental distortion of themselves thinking they are overweight or unattractive and can be perceived as problematic if the individual tries to “fix” themselves. Although some researchers believe that advertisers purposely normalize unrealistically thin bodies, in order to create an unattainable desire that can drive product consumption, the result poses serious potential harm to young women who view the images

The media group that retouches images skews the “normal” body image of people through many of its outlets, including models in advertising and magazines, and actors in TV and movie productions. “The average model portrayed in the media is approximately 5’11” and 120 pounds. By contrast, the average American woman is 5’4” and 140 pounds” (Holmstrom, 2004). This statistic shows how the media manipulates consumers into believing that because they are not what the average model looks like, they are not living up to a certain standard which implies that they need to look like that to be beautiful. Another research fact that shows a similar concept is that, “In the United States, 94% of female characters in television programs are thinner than the average American woman, with whom the media frequently associate happiness, desirability, and success in life” (Yamamiya et al., 2005). This association of female thinness and happiness, desirability and success makes consumers believe they must achieve this unrealistic thinness to achieve more ultimate goals and fulfillment in life. “The media also explicitly instruct how to attain thin bodies by dieting, exercising, and body-contouring surgery, encouraging female consumers to believe that they can and should be thin” (Yamamiya et al., 2005). This idealization of thinness in the media is seen so much, and is extremely harmful to women’s self confidence and is often associated with body image dissatisfaction, which can be a precursor to social anxiety, depression, eating disturbances, and poor self-esteem (Yamamiya et al.,

According to the article entitled, The Fashion Industry May Be Linked to Poor Body Image and Eating Disorders, psychologists and eating disorder experts say the fashion industry has gone too far in pushing thin image ideals on women and young girls. Professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical College in Chicago and Vice President of the American Psychiatric Association states “we know seeing super-thin models can play a role in causing anorexia.” This article argues that the common thin, sexy ideal in our culture and society has caused many women and girls to dislike their bodies and have poor self image, a body dissatisfaction that can lead to unhealthy weight control behaviors and

Then in the 1950's, more voluptuous figures were the ideal. Since that time the ideal body shape for women has become more and more slender (Borzekowski, Robinson, & Killen, 2000). Unfortunately, for many people the ideal thin body is nearly impossible to achieve. This makes women feel dissatisfied with their appearance. Hence the beginning of a negative body image. Recently, researchers have become concerned with the question of how and to what degree advertising involving thin and attractive women is related with chronic dieting, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders in American females (Stephens & Hill, 1994). The esteemed attention that female thinness culminates began in the United States back in the 1950's (Garner, Garfinkel, & Thompson, 1980). During the last three decades, pageant contestants, fashion models, and famous actresses have grown steadily thinner (Lake, Sweeney, & Wagner, 1999). Twenty years ago the average fashion model weighed only 8 percent less than the average women. Today the average model weighs 23 percent less than the average woman (Dunn, 1992). Surprisingly, as the body standard has continued to thin, the average weight of American women has actually risen. In 1950, mannequins closely resembled the average measurements of a woman. The average hip measurement of mannequins and women was 34 inches. By 1990, the average hip measurement was 37 inches for an average woman, while the average mannequin hip measured only 31 inches

Promotion by the media of the extraordinarily thin body types has been linked to the steady rise of eating disorders, especially among adolescents (Ballaro & Wagner, 2017). Experts believe that there are more than ten million females suffering from some sort of eating disorder and that the problems are happening in patients of younger and younger ages. The gap between the average woman’s body and the ideal body is much larger than before (Spitzer, Henderson, & Zivian, 1999). Ninety four percent of characters in the United States media, are thinner than the average woman (Gonzalez-Lavin & Smolak, 1995). The average American woman is only 5’4” tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds (Martin 2010). The media depicts happiness, wealth and success associated to unrealistic body types (Tiggemann, 2002). Not only does the media display this image, it also exhaustively provides information to encourage achievement of it as well. Whether through dieting, exercise or mild to extreme cosmetic surgery for body sculpting, women are feeling the pressure that they need to be thin and often take even the most dangerous methods to obtain this. Considering that these delusional ideals are nearly impossible for most average women, without choosing unhealthy and harmful behaviors, eating disorder theorists have proclaimed that media is supporting these habits (Levine & Smolak, 1998). It is estimated that 10-15% of girls and women between the ages of 9 and 19 are affected by eating disorders. Though the death rates vary from different studies, one thing is for sure; eating disorders can have many health risks, including death. With the unrealistic ability to achieve the super thin body image many women are still turning to these harmful methods in order to try; thus resulting in death of someone every 62 minutes as a result (Eating Disorders Coalition,

Therefore, the commendation of such look and shape commercializes unhealthy body image and procreates eating disorders. Unfortunately, at present the commercialism of a perfect body is encountered by almost everyone on everyday basis. The public is bombarded daily with images of glamorously thin women in commercials, on billboards, in movies in magazines and etc?According to Melanie Katzman, a consultant psychologist from New York, the media has actively defined the thin ideal as success and treats the body as a commodity. (Rhona MacDonald, 2001) It is evident that the persistent advocating of the media and the society produced a constant pursuit of thinness, which became a new religion. A study conducted by Harvard researchers has revealed the effect of media and magazines on adolescent girls in high schools. The children were exposed to fashion magazines and television commercials, and a while after were given self-rating surveys. The study found that sixty-nine percent of the girls said that magazine pictures

In a cross–sectional survey, “Exposure to the mass media and weight concern among girls,” participants reported how often they need fashion magazines; it was proven that those who read fashion magazines were twice as likely to diet and three times as likely to try to lose weight, than infrequent readers. The evidence suggests that exposure to unrealistic and unhealthy body images can influence young children’s perceptions of their body and therefore cause body dissatisfaction and low self esteem. In a meta– analysis of 25 studies, “The effect of experimental presentation of thin media images on body dissatisfaction,” revealed that viewers were more negative after watching thin media images than after watching average sized or plus sized models. The authors were trying to explain to the reader that viewers are heavily affected by what they watch on television. A study by Katzmarzyk and Davis, “Thinness and body shape of playboy centerfolds from 1997 to 1998,” show that there was a massive decrease in models’ body weights and measurements, with 70% of women being underweight and greater than 75% of the women being 85% of their ideal body weight. This statistical evidence is presented in order to persuade the audience that the same women who are idolized by young children

We live in a media-saturated world especially, in western society that provides a significantly influential context for people to learn about body ideals and the value placed on attractiveness that influences the way they perceive themselves. Media invades our lives through television, radio, magazines, newspapers, cinema, advertisements and internet and is very influential on vulnerable adolescents who cannot distinguish what is real and what is not Lopez-Guimera, Levine, Sanchez-Carracedo, & Fauquet, (2010). Mass media contributes to the promotion of the thin ideal as a way to achieve social approval, recognition, and success; in addition, it promotes dieting and food restriction as a socially agreeable practice. In America, body dissatisfaction has reached normative levels among girls and young women. Approximately 50% of girls and undergraduate women report being dissatisfied with their bodies, these perceptions begin at an early age of 7 and exist

The media constantly sends out an influx of images and messages promoting an almost unattainable unrealistic image of beauty, that has consistently been linked to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, predominantly among girls but can also be seen in boys. Throughout the years the ideal body shape has progressed from voluptuous and curvaceous an image Marilyn Monroe emulated to a slimmer and leaner frame in congruence with high fashion models such as Kate Moss (Katzmarzk & Davis, 2001). Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia nervosa affect between 1% and 4% of young adult females (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Eating disorders have been linked to body shapes and images present in the media (Shorter, Brown, Quinton & Hinton, 2008).

“To be happy and successful, you must be thin,” is a message women are given at a very young age (Society and Eating Disorders). In fact, eating disorders are still continuously growing because of the value society places on being thin. There are many influences in society that pressures females to strive for the “ideal” figure. According to Sheldon’s research on, “Pressure to be Perfect: Influences on College Students’ Body Esteem,” the ideal figure of an average female portrayed in the media is 5’11” and 120 pounds. In reality, the average American woman weighs 140 pounds at 5’4”. The societal pressures come from television shows, diet commercials, social media, peers, magazines and models. However, most females do not take into account of the beauty photo-shop and airbrushing. This ongoing issue is to always be a concern because of the increase in eating disorders.

They continuously portray a message to adolescent girls to look a certain way. It has become the culture in society to judge people by their outward appearance which makes teenage girls more obsessive about their own bodies (Kruger, 2007). Weight loss is usually linked to a happier and successful life and society’s obsession with diets and exercise contribute enormously to body image issues (Marsh, 2015). Teenage girls are being continuously exposed to media such as TV, internet and magazines where they are barraged with unrealistic and unobtainable body image standards from high profile celebrities and models. Most of the celebrities and models in media are clinically underweight and study shows that they generally weigh 23% less than the average woman (Just Say YES, 2015). The images used in media which teenage girls constantly aspire to be like are usually air-brushed and photo shopped (Kids Helpline, 2015). Due to all this pressure teenage girls choose unhealthy ways to fit the unrealistic body image and as a result develop eating disorders and other health issues (Gross,

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

It is evident that eating disorders are consuming our current population as many are obsessed with the amount of food they consume and their body size and weight while others do not seem to care what they eat and the size they are growing into. In the country of Japan, what is considered thin in the western world is what the see as the average size.( Kathleen & Amy, 2004) Apparently the media has also had its fair share of influence in the contribution of posing a thin body as the acceptable one thus making girls and young women fall into the eating disorder trap.( Fatima & Ruth, 2003). This goes hand in hand with the fashion world as they employ people who are a size zero or

Societal norms shape younger generation's perspective of life including body image. Media triggers self consciousness on young girls and makes them question their looks and what is considered the ideal body image. Over time the “thin ideal” norm has been more stressed with character figures, models, and other individuals. For example, characteristics such as a small waist, tall, skinny with a body weight of approximately 120 pounds, and big breast are what media emphasize as attractive, but realistically are unattainable for some. In the “Love my body campaign”, the women shown are very slim, have big breast, small waists, and are tall. In comparison, the “Real beauty campaign”, the women have more body fat, are different shapes and sizes, and vary in height.

In America’s society today it is proven that Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape which is portrayed by Americans in the media. Negative self-perception of women is an exceptionally interesting issue nowadays. It has been brought to many individuals attention that the body size of women portrayed in the mass media has increasingly gotten smaller and smaller over the past years. Most of the time advertisers will do anything they can to promote their product so it will sell and make a profit, and when something is found attractive or appealing to society's sense of beauty it will sell much faster. There is an obvious connection between body weight and the media because the fashion models, celebrities and many other famous icons portrayed are often seen as role models by many women, especially younger females. They seem to exhibit what it is to be popular and successful. Their body weight, appearance and beauty are often associated with their popularity and wealth. Many women become obsessed with these popular standards of beauty and will do whatever they can to achieve this promoted lifestyle they view everyday in different media sources. Due to these influences it develops a negative body image for the majority of the women’s population, resulting in diets, low self-esteem, low self-confidence and never feeling that one’s body is adequate. The