Body image in the media
It's okay to be the shape you are, don't try to look like J Lo or Brad Pitt!
We see unrealistic body images in the media every day. Watching TV, reading magazines, going to the cinema, seeing all those extremely thin female models and men with perfect muscle tone can make us worry that our own body is not ‘perfect’.
- Remember: nobody’s perfect. It’s okay to be the shape you are; don’t try to look like J Lo or Brad Pitt. Concentrate instead on staying fit, healthy and happy with your body!
- Don’t let other people make you feel bad about your body shape. Again, it’s YOUR body- you don’t have to change it for friends, family or anyone else.
- If others make comments about the way you look, try to ignore them. Worrying about what others think can stop you from feeling confident and happy with yourself and your body.
- Healthy eating and regular exercise will help you feel good about yourself.
- Avoid diets that promise quick weight loss: they don’t work in the long term. If you think you need to lose weight, then talk to your doctor about a healthy eating plan that can be combined with exercise.
Unrealistic body image in the media
Celebrities, models and in your face advertising aren't there to make us feel good about ourselves. They exist to present us with alternative versions of reality that encourage us to feel the need to purchase their products that promise happiness and sex appeal.
So while we spend our way to sexiness, the companies are laughing all the way to the bank.
We are constantly seeing images of stick-thin, bony models, singers and actresses in the media. We are also constantly exposed to images of men with perfect six packs and ripped torsos. This can give us an unhealthy body image and the fear that beauty IS that un-natural state of bodily perfection. To put that into perspective check out this info about unreal body images you see in the media:
- Fashion designers use models that are several sizes smaller than the average woman.
- Most Hollywood actresses are underweight.
- The average Irish woman takes a size 14. Roughly the same amount of women also take a size 16 and a size 12.
- J-Lo’s BIG BUM is only around a size 10.
- The media tells us to love our bodies no matter what the shape, but almost always use size 6 to 10 women in images.
- Photos in magazines are usually air-brushed to perfection. Any extra curves, spots, wrinkles, fuzzy hair (anything that’s normal really) are gotten rid of by a computer.
- It’s hard to find a famous woman with a curvy body these days.
- If you’re a size 16 or over here, it’s very difficult to find funky, fashionable clothes that actually fit. Being these sizes means you’re not included by many fashion designers.
- For men, the ‘perfect’ muscled body is still held up as a model for readers to follow. Some experts believe that the media’s message about male body image is causing a rise in the number of eating disorders in men. See here for more information.
- The beauty industry is now also targeting men with the pressure to stay forever young and buy the latest anti-wrinkle creams. Read more about the media’s pressure on men here.
- Find out more about body image here.
Your Comments
There are no comments for this article yet, please leave one!
Login to leave a comment on this article
Login | Sign Up