Media Portrayal of Women - Research Paper Example

Subsequently, the longer the exposure and the more they internalize the model figure, the greater is the detrimental effect. According to the study, "The psychological processes through which the mass media act as a strong sociocultural influence on women's body dissatisfaction, and subsequent body-shaping behaviors, were only poorly understood previously" (66). Another study by Marika Tiggemann, Janet Polivy and Duane Hargreaves entitled, "The processing of thin ideals in fashion magazines: A source of social comparison or fantasy," also shows the effect of the thin models on the psychological make-up of women.

The results of the study "indicate that women do engage in a moderate amount of both comparison on the basis of appearance and fantasy processing (imagining being the woman)" (88). Women consciously and subconsciously compare themselves with the model (positively or negatively) which will then result to fantasy and, worse, to obsession. The common speculation for the reasons why women, both young and mature, "buy and read magazines" are "for inspiration, self-improvement and pleasurable fantasy," but "this does make them feel positive in general" (89).

In this case, the more a woman is exposed to these good-looking models the more she fantasizes and aspires to be like them. The foregoing studies bring us to the common sickness associated with negative body-image. The article "Dissatisfaction with Our Bodies and Eating Disorders" that appears at The Feminist eZine - Health enumerates the detrimental health effects of women who are dissatisfied with their own bodies. According to this article approximately 80% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies.

Many resort to dieting in order to attain their desired size. Moreover, the source of their dissatisfaction is media portrayal of women. What media show are the "excessively thin, beautiful, young and flawless models" and that "women are repeatedly being exposed to these types of images both in printed ads, television, and movies." Consequently, dieting leads to eating disorders. Statistics show that the three most common eating disorders are: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating.

Women suffering from anorexia nervosa have an irrational fear of becoming obese, a preoccupation or with their weight and food, a distorted body-image, persistently starve themselves and deny their appetites (Dictionary.com, 2004). Bulimia, on the other hand, is "categorized by a binging and purging cycle. According to Wardlaw (2003) as cited in this article, "women affected by this eating disorder eat large amounts of food in one sitting (binge eating) which is followed by a purging from the body through vomiting, misusing laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

In addition, bulimics often use alternate methods such as intense exercise or fasting to balance the effects of excess calories." Still another disorder is