Media Influence upon Teen Eating Disorders - Essay Example

These health problems had already been known for quite some time and yet, though young girls are in focus as being most affected (Eating Disorders Starting to Bite 25). Recent studies show that the psychological disease of eating disorders is quickly spreading beyond young girls and even to young men. As western pop culture is shipped abroad to sell western commodities, the problem goes as well like unwanted freebies that are stuck and taped around a product. Black, Asian, and Hispanic girls are plagued by unhealthy eating habits because they simply wish to achieve the same physical attributes of celebrities they idolized (Gauntlett 36).

Society's response to social identity and sets limits on the behavior and beliefs that can be tolerated in society, slim bodies, ideal body shape, and a thin waistline. "Supermodels in all the popular magazines have continued to get thinner and thinner. Modeling agencies have been reported to actively pursue Anorexic models" (The Media 2007). Differences in social identity can motivate teens to acts extreme violence against those whom they classify as 'other'. To avoid these stereotypes teens are forced to change their appearance in order to meet the criteria of an ideal body.

Social identity plays a crucial role in contemporary society determining certain standards of body image and beauty. "Community of culture and unity of meaning depicted by different media are the main sources that allow the construction and experience of social identity" (Hamburg 75). This search is also evident at the individual level through the need to belong to a community. In the current era, the ideal body represents one of these standards: social identity is its product. Films, magazines, and popular TV shows depict the differences between an ugly and ideal body which can be achieved by diet.

"On television, in magazines and newspapers, we are continually exposed to the notion that losing weight will make us happier and it will be through "THIS diet plan" (The Media 2007). Critics admit that the young audience is easily affected by popular images and media idols.