Media Influences on Body Image in Adolescent Girls - Essay Example

Media Influences on Body Image in Adolescent Girls ID Lecturer The way the adolescents haveadopted on to the bandwagon of style and beauty is haunting – it depicts their thinking patterns. These young girls are ready to sacrifice just about anything to look good. It is suggestive of the fact that the role of media is indeed going towards the wrong side of the spectrum. This paper explains the way the adolescent girls are thinking and what mistakes they are doing in the wake of the problems that have been mentioned. Studies have shown that adolescence has made people do things which they would not repeat in their adult life. This goes to say that the youngsters are at an age where they are unable to decide what is good for them and what is not. There is this element of guidance and facilitation by the people who are older than them, which must always be understood. Everyone wants to look good but then again there are some parameters upon which adolescents must base their thinking beliefs. They should endeavor to look ‘different’ but they must not be allowed to exhibit behaviors which would haunt their coming years. They must make the decisions with the consent of their elders so that there are no ambiguities which might arise at a given point within their futures. The role of media is indeed essential within the related scheme of things. Media is the touch point where the adolescents learn from and thus keep in touch with the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of their times through the different vehicles of the media itself. The manner in which media can be controlled is to this day, debatable, but then again the responsibility that the parents hold in making their young ones understand the difference between the good and the bad is also a significant one. Research into these avenues will eventually prove to be successful, more so when proper time and effort would be incorporated within the same. This paper in essence looks to highlight the way the adolescent girls cope up with the media distractions which come their way and the changes that take place within their bodies on a consistent basis. An attempt has been made to discern the exact ways through which they pamper (and distort) their bodies and thus put their lives at risk. It is a fact that adolescence is hard for everyone and not just young girls. But things can seem worse if one is not blessed with certain features. Having a chest as flat as a board, a nose like Pinocchio’s, or ears that would give Dumbo the elephant a good chuckle can really send a blow to self-esteem. Some young girls get depressed, or even suicidal, because they feel they do not fit in. For them, plastic surgery may be an easy fix – an option that today’s teens are blessed; or as some say, cursed, with. Although many people associate plastic surgery as something having to do with plastic, the term originates from the Greek “plassein,” meaning “to form.” It has nothing to do with the modern synthetic material. (Cash, 2002) Plastic surgery has two major disciplines – cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery corrects displeasing physical characteristics by attempting to produce a more harmonious or although many people associate plastic surgery as something have to do with plastic, the term originates from the Greek “plassein,” meaning “to form.” It has nothing to do with the modern synthetic material. Plastic surgery has two major disciplines – cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery corrects displeasing physical characteristics by attempting to produce a more harmonious or youthful appearance, focusing on the nose, face, neck, breasts, skin, hair, or body shape. Reconstructive surgery is also used to treat burns, hand injuries, birth abnormalities, cancer deformities, and large areas of skin loss. Research into the areas of cosmetic surgery and related disciplines has proved quite a few points in the time and age of today. There was a time when cosmetic surgery was a privilege reserved for Hollywood stars and other A-listers. After that the procedures used to be the exclusive resort of wealthy women who wanted to look younger, and in many cases, bigger. In fact, stories of plastic surgery disasters and addictions, “surgery sagas” as they have come to be know, have become a popular feature in all tabloids for the last few years. Thanks to modern technology, coupled with awareness born from exposure, the trend has penetrated nearly every country and more and more people are going under the knife in an effort to look better. In fact, the trend is also growing popular among youngsters here day by day. Cosmetic procedures such as breast implants, liposuction and the like are now being bestowed by affluent parents as graduation or birthday gifts for their adolescent daughters. Society places a heavy weight on looks, especially on young girls looks. Given the choice, most people would choose to be beautiful. But then again, there is a limit to which one could put her body under the knife. It used to seem like this choice was more of a fairy tale than a reality. (Fisher, 1986) But the stigma that was once attached to plastic surgery years ago has almost completely disappeared. And plastic surgeons have more techniques and procedures at their disposal than ever before. Therefore, it suddenly seems that the choice between beauty and beast is a very real one-and a younger audience is now reaping the benefits. Teen body image issues have attained a larger than life persona – all this seemed to be missing in the past. Similarly body image issues have come about due to the problems associated with teens themselves. They just cannot get over with the belief that they are out of shape and hence become out of mind nonetheless. Thus the role of media crops in within this discussion and quite rightly so, because media has essentially played havoc with the minds of the young girls, notwithstanding just about everyone. The media in the form of television and magazines, etc provides role models that teach women to value beauty and thinness over strength of character. While men are influenced by their role models to succeed academically and excel in all areas, one is expected to maintain a beautiful appearance, i.e. a thin, sexy body. Many of the role models that are projected within the media itself are not only weak and thin – essentially, they lose their personalities and become objects and images for the pleasure of others. Used to be, one could turn on the television and spend a pleasant hour watching ‘Friends’, but so is not the case any more. The enormous popularity of reality TV shows such as "Extreme Makeover", "The Swan" and MTVs "I Want a Famous Face," as well as an explosion of websites that extol the virtues of cosmetic medicine, has fueled the desire of adolescent girls to alter their bodies permanently, and they are finding more surgeons willing to oblige them. (Seidman, 1999) Moving further ahead, the body image issues have seemed to become a market in its own right. There are further classifications within the body changing methodologies. The knife has a number of different relatives so to speak. Rhinoplasty, another term under these domains, remains the most common cosmetic operation for youngsters, but doctors are performing an increasing number of procedures such as breast reduction or implants, liposuction and tummy tucks too. Another popular procedure is lip augmentation; a procedure where the patient’s own body fat, in the form of collagen, is injected into their lips to give them the desired pout. There is another phenomenon being termed Peer Pressure Plastics; which has adolescents succumbing to the knife after seeing their friends undergo the same procedure. It is becoming a fast-catching trend with the affluent in this part of the world as well. (Zimmerman, 1997) Also peer pressure is one of the significant reasons as to why young girls want to adopt the best looks and the most expensive clothing and make-up in order to outsmart the other colleagues present within their social circles. This indeed is a magnanimous fight which has been going on for a number of years now. Whatever the case may be, cosmetic surgery is gaining popularity among a much younger audience than ever before. Cosmetic enhancement used to be for the rich and famous, but it is now, it is for everyday people who want to look and feel better about themselves; and there are a lot of girls out there who are more than willing to take the plunge. No longer content, as girls once were, to learn to live with thin lips, bumpy noses, and saddle-bag hips, adolescents today, essentially those belonging to affluent families, are coming to view cosmetic surgery as a normal rite of passage. Nearly every body part is open for improvement. People seek these types of procedures because they are not happy with their appearance. They feel something is wrong. They want to look better. Better, in most cases, means a European or Western ideal of beauty. In most cases, a freshly chiseled nose, and newly minted breasts are often a teen’s ticket to improved self-esteem. (Rosenwasser, Lingenfelter & Harrington, 1989) Store shelves groan under the weight of whitening products, makeup, and other personal hygiene items designed to enhance or restore beauty. No one has ever thought twice about using makeup, dyeing her gray hair, using products out of a tube, or wearing a ‘wonderbra’. Cosmetic surgery, today, is just an extension of that, and it is not uncommon and unheard of, as it was just a mere decade ago. Some teens are even undergoing multiple operations, acquiring smaller noses and bigger breasts at the same time. There is no doubt that plastic surgery can boost self-esteem. But there are risks involved, both mentally and physically, that can potentially cause more damage than good. The fact is that cosmetic surgery can be dangerous to health. Any surgery, for that matter, has its share of risks and many say that people should not go under the knife unless they need to. But plastic surgery can have special risks because foreign material is often inserted into the body. In the case of breast enlargements, for example, the body may reject the implant, which can cause a persons physical and mental health to deteriorate. (Koprowicz, 1999) Media and in particular television has had an effect on the niche segments of different societies and cultures over the past three to four decades. The American punk culture is one such example, which grew up epitomizing different punk artists and singers day in day out and the result, thus is the same style teenagers of present times and even in those days as well who used to imitate their inspirational groups and individuals pretty well. Thus it brought in a change in their tone and manner, in which they used to speak, eat, drink, live and spend their lives. It all changed within the matter of a certain years and thus an American punk culture came into its very own. This is a single example where a culture was formed up by watching the people perform on TV by the adolescents, whereas one can witness so many other examples to quote that were born similarly and within no time as well. One should take note that adolescence can be a pretty hard time on the part of teens as well as the parents. The major factors that contribute in more ways than one could be the marital separation; divorce, remarriage, or other sorts of emotional upheavals and insecurities. Thus, of late a need has been stressed to promote a young girls feelings related with positive self-worth at a time when she is under huge stress and anxiety so that she could think in a certain way that is free from outside influences including peers and the fashion and entertainment industries, that are so very commonly addressed by the different programs on television. (Snow, 2000) So in essence what media does here is that it in a way ignites the different feelings of a child and makes them go haywire that in the end benefits no one. More than that it provides a sense of distress and losing her self worth in the long run that can be very appalling to say the least. Young girls whose sense of worth is being constantly torn down with kids of their age being shown in cool and comfortable clothes or when high expectations from parents are attached and their relation is linked with what is being shown on television, they end up reacting in pretty unproductive as well as harmful ways which in all fairness might include developing eating disorders, joining a gang or a bunch of street criminals, becoming involved sexually with a friend or even using alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Now it is the responsibility of the people at the helm of affairs in television channels to harness and understand how teenagers develop a strong sense of identity and conviction that her future is worth protecting is one way or the other so that she could keep away from these unsafe and damaging activities. (Author Unknown, 2004) Self-esteem or self-awareness is a vital part of an individual’s upbringing and her ever-changing life. One should make all out efforts to understand her own self as well as study the strengths and weaknesses that she has to offer to the career that they are employed in or the work they are motivated towards for the sake of accomplishment and that too with success and flying colors. Indeed self-awareness plays a huge role in building the much needed confidence that a woman looks don upon herself in any field of life, be it in sports ground or in a cabin of an office. One has to continuously learn and ponder through the thick and thins of life and adjust one’s own self accordingly so as to understand her limitations with respect to those very changes and phases of life. Self-awareness is a unique facet of a man’s life and must therefore be considered whenever some major action is being undertaken in life, or for that matter even a minor one. Self-esteem similarly, has also got a pivotal role in chalking out one’s usage of her emotions in crunch and difficult situations as well as the reactions that are involved in the aftermath of some big tragedy that might take place in a person’s life from time to time. (Billups, 1999) The same could be equally true for her attaining success in an arena of life, which are also there along with the moments of grief and sorrow. A young girls level of self-esteem literally impacts every area of her life which for that matter might include health, her ability to learn, execute different behaviors as well as understand the importance of having jointed relationships, not only with the family members but also with friends and acquaintances. Young girls who are in their adolescence have a high level of self-esteem and self-confidence within their folds and thus they respond well to others. They are surely at a benefit in every field of life, whether it is concerned with their families or cohort relationships like school, sports or organizational activities. These girls with a high level of self-esteem are also more likely to lead happy and creative lives whereby they develop a positive attitude as well as an innate drive for self-confidence that will eventually guarantee them the success they desire for in their personal lives as well as in their upcoming careers. Experts opine that only a well grounded, confident individual with a strong family support group and realistic expectations will have a good result from surgery, regardless of how well the surgery was technically performed. Those who are truly unhappy will always find some aspect of their appearance to criticize. Modern technology also influences how young people perceive their body image, many contemporary dance music videos are less likely to feature images of the artists who made the music than scantily clad young women with thin bodies, large breasts and perfect, cellulite-free bottoms being thrust at the camera. After watching dance music stations on satellite television for hours and hours. By witnessing video after video of girls in bikinis, dressed as nurses, cheerleaders, marching band musicians and even vampires, all with tiny costumes and perfect bodies and not having any particular reference to the music. (Hesse-Biber, 1997) It was apparent these videos accompanied the ‘ring tone’ music played on the mobile telephones of most of the members of the youth groups at work and the images of these dancing women form part of their popular culture. Another worrying aspect of the popular culture of the respondents to this research are the social network websites such as Bebo, MySpace and Facebook which are designed for people to keep in touch and make new friends over the Internet. Each of these virtual communities offers their members the opportunity to display an image of themselves for other members to see and although nudity is not allowed, one is shocked at the number of pseudo-erotic poses displayed particularly by young women to attract people to their page. The other aspect of these social network sites which is very concerning is the availability of groups that promote anorexia or bulimia. (Thompson, 1997) Previously these were separate websites colloquially known as ‘pro-ana’ or ‘pro-mia’ sites offering group support and tips to control calorific intake or perform effective purging, but these groups are now appearing more frequently on the social network sites which many young people use regularly. There is a difference between eating disorders and body dysmorphia, but when confronted with an unsatisfactory mirror image and supported by virtual reality friends who give advice on how to loose weight and attain a more personally satisfactory body image the temptation to make use of this information is undoubtedly increased. Highly acclaimed research studies have suggested that despite the success of women in all areas of modern society the pursuit of beauty has, if anything intensified. (Cantor, 1977) A woman’s access to disposable income has allowed expensive beauty and diet products to be purchased, as well as paying for visits to beauty salons and health spas; beauty is big business. In the end, what the young lot does not seem to understand is that it is not just about having money to spare. Looks do not directly translate into feelings. If they did, all beautiful people would be happy. While having plastic surgery can help you feel better about yourself during the awkward teenage stage, it can have reverse effects in one’s adult life. Young girls must not concentrate on the way the media projects women rather they should focus more on building up their pertinent personalities. Also the way the media reacts in these scenarios is all the more significant and there must be curbs put in order to check for any issues that may so arise. References Author Unknown. (2004). Teens who watch sex on TV are twice as likely to have sex themselves. 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