Female body obsession through the media - Research Paper Example

Female body obsession through the media (Problem Solution Paper) INTRODUCTION The recently augmented trend, especially among young girls, to maintain their body image as thin, has attracted a huge number of researchers from the social paradigm. While the perceived notion today advocates a thin body image to be a symbol of being healthy and beautiful, researchers have identified a strong role played by media in shaping such a belief amid females of the 21st century. As quoted by Klein (15), “We are living in a world that idealizes the sickly thin and shames the overweight”. Undoubtedly, media has been playing a huge role for changing the overall appearance of females in today’s world, which in turn has induced an unhealthy obsession among females to manage a low weight body image. Speaking scientifically or from a healthcare perspective, being a female inevitably exerts a huge amount of strain for maintaining a fit body along with being thin and beautiful. In pursuance to assist women in balancing health with a slim body image, media has resulted in alleviating eating disorders among females, which in turn has created a sense of dissatisfaction among them, concerning their body image. The impact of media on female body obsession cannot be overlooked, as it has made the body image of females more vulnerable to mass community. Media has also changed the perceptions among females, which has encouraged them in developing an unrealistic appearance, thereby creating an obsession of body image among them. Social networking sites, being one of the prominent media options today, have also affected the life-style choices of females through personalized advertising, due to which, the females are continuously being pressurized, supposedly indirectly by social as well as communal forces, to maintain a good body image in their society. Perhaps, the ubiquitous and persistent nature of media and various social networking sites have strongly impacted the females in relation to body obsession, which has emerged as a major concerning factor in the recent phenomenon (Spettigue and Katherine, “Eating Disorders and the Role of the Media”). Thesis Statement. The thesis primarily intends to identify the problems that media has exacerbated for body obsession among females, defining and exemplifying the trend problems and social issues concerning female body obsession. Likewise, the impact of this trend, problems and related social issues will also be explained in the paper. DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION OF TREND, PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL ISSUES Irrespective of the actual weight, most of the females are concerned about their body image of being thinner, due to which, they develop a sense of strong body obsession. Emphasizing this phenomenon, researchers have revealed that British females conceive losing their body weight will positively change their life and help in making it better, alleviating their social status among friends and the society on the whole. Studies have also revealed that while most of the American females conceive that losing their body weight will help them achieve the desired results in life, it can be argued that cultural differences and varying ideologies have negated influence on the impact media has created on females, fuelling their body obsession. As a consequence, maintaining a good body image along with appearing thin and beautiful can be observed as an increasingly prominent trend in almost every culture around the world, especially those wherein media has had a strong penetration and worthiness. The trend of food consumption for females has significantly changed from the past few years, wherein the females have become more conscious about their dietary habits, often, directly indicating their body obsession. This particular trend has allegedly induced eating disorders among females, as the food they consume lack proper nutrition and proteins. On the whole, the trend of food consumption has adversely affected the health of females worldwide, causing major threat to the long-run social health in the global economy (Miller and Jamin, “Media consumption, body image and thin ideals in New Zealand men and women”). Body dissatisfaction can also be attributed as one of the major problems associated with body obsession. To be specific, body dissatisfaction has promoted use of harmful weight-control practices so as to develop a good shaped body, but in reality, they have been unsuccessful in meeting the required body standards rather causing malnutrition and various other types of health related problems for the females. This can also be accounted as major cause of increasing problem of frustration and distress among females as the weight-control practices used by them tend to cause severe negative impacts on their overall health. “Signs of bulimia and anorexia nervosa” has been commonly witnessed to be increasing among females in the current phenomenon, which in turn have resulted in eating disorders among these populaces (Hoffmann, “The beauty ideal: Unveiling harmful effects of media exposure to children”). Certain social issues may also be found as linked with female body obsession as many females have also been observed to undertake dangerous surgeries so as to achieve a better body image and attain recognition in the society. However, it is considered that female body obsession has developed a sense of insecurity among females due to which they use harmful procedures to achieve a good body image and gain reputation in the society. This particular trend in turn has been criticized to have degraded the overall health of females worldwide, which has been a prevalent social issue with serious implications in the long-run. Studies in this regard depict that the group of females worldwide has been getting deceived with the message of perfect body image, which is portrayed by advertisement companies mainly, through media. This further depicts the strong influence of media in causing body obsession among females, due which it can be argued that the wellbeing and safety of females in the society is getting jeopardized (Hoffmann, “The beauty ideal: Unveiling harmful effects of media exposure to children”). CONSEQUENCES OR IMPACTS OF THE TREND, PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL ISSUES Media has often been accused for being responsible to represent females in an exploitative manner. Trends observed nowadays show that men and other social companions of females equate them in their personal lives with the one replicated in the televisions and magazines, either through advertisements or reality shows. From the above mentioned trends, problems and social issues it can be apparently identified that the impacts of media on females has been quite severe. This can be justified in terms of physical impacts, cognitive impacts and societal impacts (Berberick, “The objectification of women in mass media: Female self-image in misogynist culture”). Physical Impacts: According to Berberick (2010), the extent of cosmetic surgery increased significantly from 2000 to 2009 wherein there was a 36% rise observed in the frequency of breast augmentation surgery, wherein observations revealed that it was the new trend portrayed by media that compelled the females to do so. Similarly there was an 84% increase observed in the frequency of abdominoplasty, through which various artists (mostly females) underwent cosmetic surgery in order to get rid of unnecessary fat in their stomach area. In addition, females have undertaken numerous surgeries for lower body lifts and breasts lifts, which were further observed to promote dangerous measures for enhancing their appearances as per the standards set by the media (McGraw-Hill Higher Education, “Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence”) Cognitive Impacts: As per the current trends, media has often been alleged to showcase the images of females through before and after effects, wherein media portrays that females who have undertaken some surgeries witness a huge difference in their appearance thus favoring such chronic physical changes through surgery. This in turn inspires the females to change their physical appearances within a short-term period undergoing surgeries. However, these surgeries may impose chronic effects on the mental as well as physical health of the females, indicating greater negative effects of such exposure. Media have also been show casing slim body images making an attempt to compare the body shape of women, becoming a source of dissatisfaction for the heavier women, as they perceive that their physical shape does not meet the required media standards owing to which, they might not be appraised in the society. These particular measures used by media are alleged to create a sense of disgust among females, which results in de-motivating them and their appearance in the society. Hence, it can be asserted that media has played a huge role in negatively affecting the cognitive behavior of females worldwide (Berberick, “The objectification of women in mass media: Female self-image in misogynist culture”). Societal Impacts: Nowadays, most of the cosmetic companies use media to gain attention of the females and simulate their aspiration for appearing better. Companies, involved in such tactics have been frequently observed to employ attractive bodies when advertising with an expectation to ensure sales maximization. Based on these grounds, media has often been held responsible for promoting brands with negligible significance towards the impact it causes on the society. Attitude of the male group has drastically changed in the society wherein female body is merely considered as sex objects, indicating high accreditation of sexism in the society. In this context, steps taken by media have been alleged to result in devaluing females, which in turn has contaminated the entire cultural environment of the 21st century to a certain extent. These particular facts provide evidence that media has changed the way females live in the society wherein these changes have negatively impacted their perceptions and well-being (Berberick, “The objectification of women in mass media: Female self-image in misogynist culture”). CAUSES OF THE FEMALE BODY OBSESSION Female body obsession has been a concerning factor for various institutions that are inclined towards women emancipation in the modern day context wherein allegations have been surrounding the exposure of women to immense pressure, fundamentally owing to strong impressions caused by media. Emphasizing a similar notion, Klein states that media has been promoting weight loss in an unhealthy manner with the use of slim celebrities’ images and videos more extensively while hiding and criticizing heavier celebrities behind the curtain. However, these images and videos have resulted in female body obsession, as it negatively influences young girls in the society. It can be mentioned in this regard that magazines have played a huge role in female body obsession providing tips related to weight loss in which these magazines recommend the females to use pills that actively responses to excessive weight without any information on their side-effects at most instances. In this regard, females have been subjected to confinements wherein they tend to restrict or suppress their desires of a more open life, which may also be identified as a cause of female body obsession. This is fundamentally because it has become necessary for them to maintain a good body image along with meeting the ideals set by media, which they assume to help gaining a better status in the society. As often observed, most of the females, when in their early age, began dieting with self-developed chart of food items, following the standards set by glamorous people who usually appear in TV shows and other media channels (Klein, “Why dont I look like her? The impact of social media on female body image”). However, as these young girls grow up, they are either observed to suffer from obesity or under-weightage problems, which in turn create a sense of dissatisfaction among them and directly results to female body obsession. TV advertisements and other modes of media advertisements have also influenced females promoting products that help in burning their fats, while these products have numerous side effects that negatively affect their well-being. In the present day context, eating disorders has been frequently observed among women and is considered as the main cause of female body obsession. Thus, it can be stated that media has promoted eating disorders as most of the young girls conceive that appearing thin is the new way of living and gaining positive appraisals in the fashion world. Disordered thoughts among women have further been found promoted, as the female body image is continuously compared in the society, under strong impression of the media. This in turn has encouraged the females to consume food that do not meet the vitamin requirements of their body and results in degrading their overall health (Klein, “Why dont I look like her? The impact of social media on female body image”). In the historical context, underweighted people used to be highly criticized as it was conceived that underweight portrays the poverty level of an individual, while people with good body weight were praised for their symbolism of wealth and sophistication. Historically, it was also believed that obesity portrayed the success of an individual because of which they were highly admired in the society. However, this has changed overtime as presently fatness is highly criticized and thinness is idolized by the people in the community, with the virtues of media. This particular change has created a huge problem for the society, as it has increased the extent of depressive behavior to avoid obesity among females. To be precise, such factors have further contributed towards accelerating female body obsession as the sense of dissatisfaction among them has reached to its extreme end. In consequence, it has been tremendously difficult for females to cope with the standards set by media in relation to their body image. This has degraded the confidence level of numerous females, which has further caused psychological imbalances among them as they have been unable to control their body image (Klein, “Why dont I look like her? The impact of social media on female body image”). Presently, companies have been using marketing strategies that is mainly inclined towards increasing their product consumption in the market through advertisements that promotes unrealistic standards of females’ body image. These marketing strategies have strongly been criticized by activists for being focused towards increasing the profit margin and market shares instead of emphasizing customers’ wellbeing. Thus, even though the results achieved by the companies have been positive in terms of their profitability, it has negatively influenced perception amid the females, as they have started evaluating their physical attractiveness negatively feeling depressed. According to Brown (1), “These media images create frustration and disappointment for women in Western cultures because they perpetuate unattainable, ideal body standards that can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors in some women”. This statement can be strongly agreed based on the fact that most often young women desire to achieve a body image with the use of various products that may harm them in the long run or cause massive negative impacts on their well-being, subjected to various physical and biological attributes. Hence, when the desired results is not achieved by them, there is a huge possibility that these young females will become dissatisfied with their body image and undertake certain measures that may negatively affect them for their entire lifetime (Brown, “Media representations of female body images in women’s magazines”). In addition, adverse emotional reactions are developed among young females because of which, they continuously use harmful products for becoming thin and achieving the desired body image. Eventually, when the desired results are not achieved, female body obsession can be witnessed. Contextually, a social linkage between the TV programs and female body dissatisfaction can be identified in such scenarios. This is because both young and adult females usually view daily TV soaps, movies and music videos that represent stereotypical roles of females. This makes them compare their own body image with the female actresses or models or other professionals in the TV programs. Thus, the level of dissatisfaction in relation to their appearance significantly increases due to their comparing tendency. For instance, in the current phenomenon, American females are observed to spend more than USD 40 billion annually, on products that are related to maintaining a good body image staying fit and healthy. However, the expenses incurred by them have merely met the purpose, as almost 50% of the females in America are frustrated with their body weight. This further concludes the fact that American society has developed a trend wherein females strongly desire being thin so as to integrate with the people in the society and gain success through recognition amid their social circle. However, this trend has created a sense of fear among the females, as their livelihood highly depends upon their body image. This is because of the fact that if they do not maintain a good body image, they might fail in gaining fame and recognition in the society. Mental disorder has been one of the major social issues raised due to the cultural trend of body image being followed in various nations. Therefore, it can be asserted that cultural backgrounds of a nation can also play a huge role in female body obsession although its effects are seemed to fade-out in the recent phenomenon. Szwarc, further states, “The obsession with thinness has not only affected how young people see themselves, but also how they view and treat others” (Brown 19-20). This particular statement provides evidence that the cultural pressure of ideal appearance under strong impression from the media has not only affected the young females but also the people surrounding them in the society (Brown, “Media representations of female body images in women’s magazines”). CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Female body obsession has significantly risen from the past few years, wherein the media has played a significant role in not only shaping the mindset of females but also the community as a whole. Often unknown of these facts, most of the females use the products promoted in media as they feel insecure in the society which exposes the body image of females and devalue their appearances. Thus, in order to reduce the extent of female exposure, certain actions or initiatives must be taken by the government officials that would make them feel secure in the society. This government initiative must include promoting an industrial code wherein companies, while promoting their product, require providing due emphasis to promoting female health. One of the best actions for reducing female body obsession is the initiative of shifting the focus from female’s body image to their role in the community. The process used by media in promoting body image should be completely changed wherein a healthier form of body image must be promoted rather than skinny or thin body image with due consideration to the nutrition requirements, which may differ from one to another individual. For instance, the Australian government has taken the initiative of responding to female body obsession in an effective manner developing various codes for fashion industries that promotes good health. It can be therefore assumed that the initiatives taken by the Australian government will result positively, aspiring the majority of females in the nation wherein they would be more inclined towards healthiness instead of their appearance or body image. Moreover, the rate of eating disorders along with body dissatisfaction among females would also reduce to a significant level with the suggested initiatives, as the fashion industry will focus towards promoting healthier products. Thus, it can be affirmed that there would be a good linkage between the causes of body obsession and the effects of initiatives taken by the Australian government (Committee for a Workers’ International, “Real Women in advertising and the body image obsession”). In this case, assistance of organizations such as the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) may be helpful. BRC works as a panel in America to provide recommendations regarding certain issues, which further helps the government in making decisions. As the rate of female body obsession is continuously increasing in the US, BRC has taken the initiative of women apprenticeship, which should be encouraged by other allied non-profit seeking organizations as well as the government at large. Through this initiative, the panel shall be able to provide recommendations to the US government for women emancipation wherein it is recommended that females must be trained for meeting the physical requirements in the work place. Likewise, the panel has also recommended reducing the extent of aggressive advertisements undertaken by magazines and TVs to promote ideal image of female body promoting training programs for females in their community so as to educate them for using healthier products that may indirectly enhance their body image. It is also recommended that adequate family support must be provided to the females so as to ensure their confident involvement in the society. Providing progressive opportunities to the females wherein they are appointed at leadership level may also be considered as a recommended measure to get uplifted in the society and develop a sense of satisfaction (State of California, “Blue Ribbon Committee on Women in Apprenticeship”). Works Cited Berberick, Stephanie, Nicholl. “The objectification of women in mass media: Female self-image in misogynist culture.” The New York Sociologist 5 (2010): 1-14. Print. Brown, Karen, Ruth. “Media representations of female body images in women’s magazines.” 2006. Web. 21 May. 2014. “Real Women in advertising and the body image obsession.” Committee for a Workers International. 2012. Web. 21 May. 2014. Hoffmann, Aimee, Nicole. “The beauty ideal: Unveiling harmful effects of media exposure to children.” 2004. Web. 21 May. 2014. Klein, Kendy M. “Why dont i look like her? The impact of social media on female body image.” CMC Senior Theses (2013): 5-118. Print. “Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence.” McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 2006. Web. 21 May. 2014. Miller, Evonne and Jamin, Halberstadt. “Media consumption, body image and thin ideals in New Zealand men and women.” New Zealand Journal of Psychology 34.3 (2005): 189-195. Print. Spettigue, Wendy and Katherine A. Henderson. “Eating disorders and the role of the media.” The Canadian Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Review 13.1 (2004): 16-19. Print. “Blue Ribbon Committee on Women in Apprenticeship.” State of California. 2006. Web. 21 May. 2014. Read More