Judd, A. (2010). Eating disorders sourcebook. (3 ed.). Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc.
Kelly, T. (2009, October 26). Plus-size supermodel Crystal Renn. Time. Retrieved from
Neumark-Sztainer, I. (2005). I'm, like, so fat!, helping your teen make healthy choices about eating and exercise in a weight-obsessed world. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Nordquist, J. (1989). Eating disorders :Feminist, historical, cultural, psychological aspects : A bibliography. Santa Cruz, CA, USA: Reference and Research Services.
Solomon, A. (2009, September ). What everyone but you sees about your body. Glamour, 190-196.
Wykes, M., & Gunter, B. (2005). The media and body image: If looks could kill. London; Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
"How does media influence society's perception of 'gender-appropriate' body image?" by London Skye
Below is a short YouTube video that gives a glimpse of the mass-mediated body image that will be discussed in the following article.
Everywhere we go, in everything we read and view, we see men and women with flawless skin,
hair, and physiques. Surrounding these images are advertisements for makeup, dietary supplements,
hair dye, and even plastic surgery. The combination of these elements works to send a message about
the way that men and women should look. The problem, however, lies in the reality, or unreality rather,
of this media-generated body image. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and
Associated Disorders (ANAD), only five percent of women naturally possess the “ideal” body image
portrayed in today’s media (2011). In other words, the media is encouraging individuals to become
something they were never meant to be by altering their shapes and appearances.
Unfortunately, the pressure to achieve this body image often leads individuals to engage in very
dangerous methods of weight loss and appearance alteration. Aside from invasive plastic surgery
procedures, many individuals resort to even more detrimental lifestyle choices, such as anorexia,
bulimia, and laxative abuse. According to recent studies, there are 24 million people in the U.S. currently
suffering from an eating disorder, indicating that the desire to be thin is inhibiting the safety of our society
(ANAD, 2011). Teenagers are one population in particular that are affected by the media’s influence,
demonstrated by the fact that greater than half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use
unhealthy weight control behaviors (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005). Weight-loss becomes like an addiction, and
no matter how much is lost, there is always more to lose. “The development of proanorexia (pro-ana) and
probulimia (pro-mia) websites on the Internet has been particularly concerning. Here, people who have made
a ‘life style choice’ to engage in eating-disordered behavior post messages detailing their weight loss progress
and provide tips, support, and encouragement for their peers. Pictures of emaciated women resembling
concentration camp victims serve as ‘thinsperation’” (Derenne & Beresin, 2006). Considering these ideas, it is
easy to see how the perception of body image has become a disease that is infecting society in vast numbers.
Many companies within the media industry have tried to counteract this negative media-influence by including
plus-size models in their magazines and advertisements. I must ask the question though, if labeled as
“plus-size”, how are these models’ appearances combating the idea of unattainably thin being “normal”?
Body image is a sensitive topic and, in order to undo the damage inflicted on society’s perception of it, it’s
going to require a lot of work. Glamour magazine suggests, “Look in the mirror and focus your eyes and
thoughts on what you like. Do this once a day and you’ll be amazed at how your ‘flaws’ become a tiny portion
of your beautiful whole” (Solomon, 2009). While this is a great way to avoid reaching the point of self-deprivation
and unhealthy behaviors, it is important to realize that those who have already established these disorders
are suffering from a serious disease and should seek medical attention. While it may seem far off, I believe it is
both feasible and necessary to change body image perceptions so that we don’t have to change ourselves in
order to be recognized as “beautiful”.
References
Agras, W. S. (2010). The oxford handbook of eating disorders. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
ANAD: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2011). Eating disorders
statistics. Retrieved from http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/eating-;
disorders-statistics/
CMCH: Center on Media and Child Health. (2008). Body Image. Retrieved from http://www.cmch.tv/mentors_parents/bodyimage.asp
Derenne, J. L., Beresin, E. V. Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders. (2006). Academic Psychiatry, 30.
Retrieved from http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/30/3/257
Judd, A. (2010). Eating disorders sourcebook. (3 ed.). Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc.
Kelly, T. (2009, October 26). Plus-size supermodel Crystal Renn. Time. Retrieved from
Neumark-Sztainer, I. (2005). I'm, like, so fat!, helping your teen make healthy choices about eating and
exercise in a weight-obsessed world. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Nordquist, J. (1989). Eating disorders :Feminist, historical, cultural, psychological aspects : A
bibliography. Santa Cruz, CA, USA: Reference and Research Services.
Solomon, A. (2009, September ). What everyone but you sees about your body. Glamour, 190-196.
Wykes, M., & Gunter, B. (2005). The media and body image: If looks could kill. London; Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage.