The media and body image

 

 

 

The media has a profound effect on people, particularly women, and the way that they perceive themselves and their bodies. Thanks to television, the Internet, and movies, media has a strong hold on women's personal perceptions of what beauty is supposed to be. Because of this, it has been known to contribute to some women experiencing eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

 

Young girls, teenagers, and even young adults should educate themselves about having a healthy body, and learn how to accept themselves for the beautiful person they are inside.

 

Here are some statistics relating to the media and how it has an effect on women and their body image:

• * Most models weigh an average of 23% less than a typical woman. Twenty years ago, this difference was a mere 8%.
• * Over twenty years ago, the diet business was not as profitable as it is now, with much of this relating to the media. Today, this industry consists of over $33 billion each year.
• There has been at least a sixty percent increase over the last twenty five years in the way women are portrayed; now, over half of women in media are perceived as sexual objects.
• Shockingly, problems with eating disorders have increased over 400% since the year 1970.
• Only five percent of women in the US actually fit the current body type popularly portrayed in advertising today.
• Teen People Magazine conducted a recent survey. In it, they discovered that over 25% of the girls surveyed felt that the media makes them feel pressure to have a perfectly shaped body.
• In another study, 69% of girls concurred that models found in magazines had a major influence on their concept of what a perfect body shape should look like.

20 Tips to Help You Feel Better About Your Body

1. Write down a list of the many things your body allows you to do, then read it often and add to it as you think of new things.
2. Be conscious about what your body is capable of every day. Keep in mind that the body is the instrument of your life and more than just decoration.
3. Come up with a list of people who influence you and who you look up to: those in your personal life, your neighborhood, and the world as a whole. Think about whether or not the way they look is a factor in deciding on their individual success or achievements.
4. Always take pride in yourself as a human being and walk tall and proudly.
5. Do not let your weight or body shape have any influence on whether or not you take part in sports or other activities.
6. Try to wear clothes that feel comfortable and that make you feel confident when you wear them.
7. You should always count your blessings and never count or worry about your blemishes.
8. Take a moment to consider all of the things you can do with your time and energy that you might spend worry about the way you look. Then, try to accomplish one of those things!
9. Support your body and be a friend to it; be healthy.
10. You might not know that your skin actually replaces itself every month, your stomach lining is replaced every five days, your liver replenishes every six weeks, and your skeleton does it every three months.
11. Each day when you get up, be thankful for the rest you've gotten and that your body is now every morning when you wake up, your body is rejuvenated again so you can be strong and happy throughout your day.
12. Each night, remember how much you should appreciate your body and remember what you've been able to accomplish during the day.
13. Discover a way to get exercise that you enjoy, and then make it a habit. Do not just get exercise to lose weight. Do it in order to stay healthy so you can be stronger and feel your best.
14. Go back to a past time in life when you felt confident about your body. Remember that you can feel that way again no matter what age you are now.
15. Come up with ten positive things about you, but don't include anything about the way you look. Then, add more to it as you go!
16. Make a sign and put it on your mirror telling yourself you are a beautiful person both inside and outside.
17. Look for the beauty in things around you, as well as in yourself.
18. Keep telling yourself that life is much too short to dislike your body.
19. Do not starve yourself; eat when you feel hungry and get good rest when you're tired. Be around people who are encouraging, and who make you feel good about yourself inside.
20. Remember that the most important person in your life is yourself, and you have an obligation to yourself to be happy and healthy.

Written by: Joel Miller
Source: http://www.admedia.com/media-and-body-image.php

The Role and Influence of Mass Media

Mass media is communication—whether written, broadcast, or spoken—that reaches a large audience. This includes television, radio, advertising, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and so forth. 

Mass media is a significant force in modern culture, particularly in America. Sociologists refer to this as a mediated culture where media reflects and creates the culture. Communities and individuals are bombarded constantly with messages from a multitude of sources including TV, billboards, and magazines, to name a few. These messages promote not only products, but moods, attitudes, and a sense of what is and is not important. Mass media makes possible the concept of celebrity: without the ability of movies, magazines, and news media to reach across thousands of miles, people could not become famous. In fact, only political and business leaders, as well as the few notorious outlaws, were famous in the past. Only in recent times have actors, singers, and other social elites become celebrities or “stars.”

Mass media can be used for various purposes:

Entertainment:

The original idea behind the creation of various ‘media means’ was to entertain masses. Radio, TV, cinemas and magazines spend most of their resources targeting on entertaining items and programs. Because of the growing population and developing lifestyle, the demand for more entertainment is increasing.

News & Current Affairs:

One of major duties of media today is to inform the people about the latest happening around them and the world. They cover all aspects of our interest like weather, politics, war, health, finance, science, fashion, music, etc. The need for more and more news has evolved into creation of dedicated TV & radio channels and magazines. People can listen, watch and read latest news whenever and wherever they want.

Political Awareness:

Media is the overseer of the political system. If it plays its role honestly, it will be a great force in building the nation. It plays a great role in bringing common man close to their leaders. The media focuses in bringing details of all major political situations, decisions and scenarios. Hence people can better understand their rights and make better decisions.

Education:

Because of the power of media is so extensive and huge, it can be used to educate people with very little cost. Imagine a classroom in every city with thousands of students being taught by just one teacher. But unfortunately, because of money-making approach of media and lack of interest by government, very less work is done in spreading the education.

Public Announcements:

Various authorities and agencies utilize the power of media to spread informative messages to public. This may include warning against a storm or epidemic, delay in arrival or departure of flights and trains, etc.

Advertisement:

Almost all business concerns uses the power of media to sell their products. They advertise in media for the enhancement of business purposes. Huge amounts of money are invested in media for marketing of a product. The more attractive the advertisement, the more people will follow it.

Disadvantages:

Even though there are lot of plus points for use of media but there are also many disadvantages associated with it. Media has the bad effect of inducing baseless ideas through advertisements. People are forced to buy harmful or substandard products. Sometimes, the Media develops unnecessary sensation and distortion of truth to attract attention. Because of its power to build public opinion, the influence of media can make or break the government.

Conclusion:

The media has the power of educating people, the good and the bad. Since it affect the eyes, the ears and the mind simultaneously nothing can overcome the influence of the media. The media in the advanced society should perform a noble mission of enlightening people and discourage sectarian, communal and divisive trends.

 

Source: http://www.publishyourarticles.net/eng/articles/an-essay-on-the-role-of-media.html (adapted)