Models with Extremely Low BMI - Term Paper Example

Models with Extremely Low BMI should not be exposed on Public Media Models with extremely low BMI should notbe exposed on public media as this has adverse effects on the health of young girls watching and looking up to the celebrity models as their role models (Janet 5). Media plays a big role in influencing people’s decisions about their day to day lives. Television, newspapers, magazines as well as the internet have been at the forefront in shaping the contemporary community. Using models with very low BMI in product advertising, promotions and in beauty pageants promotes the idea that a woman’s beauty is measured on the basis of how low their BMI is (Janet, 11). This has hugely has a great impact over the years on how people conceive the concept of beauty. For a young lady growing up, she has to maintain her weight within the socially accepted levels so as to look beautiful and attractive like the models in the media. This has led to so many self esteem issues among young women prompting actions from authorities in some jurisdictions to regulate coverage of skinny models in the media. Israel for instance has recently outlawed the use of models with extremely low BMI in the public media. The widespread use of skinny models in the media has created a misconception around the world especially among young people where they associate weight with beauty. People usually perceive being skinny as beauty while they consider having a lot of weight as being ugly or less attractive (Janet 31). This should not be the case since weight and beauty are not related in any way whatsoever. Fashion houses and developers usually use skinny people to model their products hence incepting the idea that in order for one to be beautiful they must be skinny. The issue has formed a huge part of public debate in the recent past, especially with some governments such as Israel stepping in to regulate the fashion and advertising industry (Brown, 2009). Like any other issue of contention in the public, the use of skinny models has generated huge interest with some people opposed to it as well as others supporting it. My opinion however is that, there is need for the young generation to have a different conception of beauty from what the media currently portrays. Beauty should not be related to ones weight, but rather how one maintains her body so as to look attractive despite their weight. The use of models with extremely low BMI in the public media has had a lot of negative impact on young girls. It has led to issues of self esteem. Today, it is society where young girls are faced with issues of self esteem more than ever (Janet 57). They do not like their bodies, they don’t feel attractive and they hate themselves. This certainly affects how these girls relate with others, their performance in schools as well as their future plans. One major disadvantage of low self esteem is depression. This refers to a mental disorder which is associated with a bad mood, unwillingness to live as well as trouble in finding one’s purpose in life (Janet 12). This often leads to one being suicidal as they feel worthless in the society due to their unattractive bodies. In an attempt to look attractive like the celerity models shown in the media, young girls tend to alter their eating patterns so as to shade off some of their weight (Brown). This has led to a lot of cases of eating disorders among young women. Eating disorders come as a result of psychological issues that the girls face in their attempt to look attractive (Janet 49). This either leads to excess eating so as to gain some weight, if it is too low or lose weight if it is a lot. This in turn either leads to obesity, which is caused by excess weight, or anorexia, which comes as a result of losing too much weight to a point of risking one’s life. Losing a lot of weight also leads to an emotional condition known as bulimia. Bulimia is characterized by craving too much for food as well as uncontrolled eating, which is then followed up by depression and throwing up so as to let the food out of the stomach. Bulimia has been associated with a lot of models who despite eating a lot of food, they manage to keep their weight low and stay skinny (Janet 62). Such are the effects of using models with extremely low BMI in the public media. There is need to change this situation and improve the mindset of the people on what constitutes beauty (Brown). This will help a lot of young girls develop their self esteem, love their bodies and feel attractive regardless of their weight. In order for this to e achieved, the media has to be at the forefront in changing people’s mentality. There are two main theoretical arguments that can be used to convince the media against the use of skinny models. These are the consequentialist argument as well as Emanuel Kant’s Deontology theory. These theories can be relied upon to support the opinion that the media and the fashion industry in general should be governed to ensure that the notion of beauty and weight which are common in young people. Hence, the use of models with a low body mass index should be prohibited from all fashion shows and advertising within the fashion arts. A difference has to be made between low BMI and being extremely skinny. Having a low BMI is an unhealthy condition which means that one’s weight is negatively proportional to their height. This does not necessarily mean that one is skinny, but it implies that one is unhealthy. Being skinny is relative depending on how one’s weight is compared to others. The fear that comes with regulating the fashion industry to cut out models with low body mass index comes from the fact that most individuals in the industry will be rendered jobless. This is not the case. Regulating the industry will pave way for models with unhealthy conditions to improve on their health and continue with their work. This situation also approached from a utilitarian point of view is the right step to take since it will result to a greater good to the greatest number of people in the society. It is better to save the lives of the majority of young women who are influenced by the media, than to please a few models with unhealthy conditions. The consequentialism theory of utilitarian ethics can also be used to support the above thesis statement. The theory stipulates that to determine if something is right or wrong ones should consider the consequences that result from such an action. When one considers the fashion industry very tiny girls are usually used to advertise new fashions trends that usually have a huge impact on young people. For instance, a survey done among models in the United States of America revealed that most young girls who are professional models usually use their fingers to make them vomit in order for them to maintain their small bodies for modeling (Golden, Peterson & Kramer 43). To make matter worse models have been known to reveal during interviews on national television and radio that they use their fingers to induce vomiting as a skill to ensure their bodies remain in shape. This has resulted in many young girls doing the same in order for them to feel beautiful since their role models do the same. It has also resulted in many suffering from Anorexia where one uncontrollably desires to lose weight thus putting their lives at risk. It is due to this that governments should ban models with low body mass index from being shown on public television. ` The other theory that can support the thesis statement is the theory of natural law. This puts forward the notion that one should discover good or bad principles by rationally reflecting on human nature. This means that one should determine what is good or bad by considering whether it affects positively or negatively on human nature (Golden, Peterson & Kramer 59). For example, it is not in human nature to eat food then instead of digesting it one willingly vomits the food to ensure that they stay skinny thus beautiful. Hence by considering this government should ban all models with low body mass index from being shown in public media since they result in actions among young people that are not consistent with human nature in order to ensure that they are beautiful. Low body mass index model have often resulted in negative consequences in young people especially girls. This is due to the fact that these models install the idea in young girls that one has to be skinny in order for them to be beautiful. It is important for the government to ensure that it protects the youth by ensuring that models with low body mass index are not displayed on public media. If it does not do so, then conditions such as bulimia, depression and anorexia will continue to increase among the youth. Works Cited Brown, Laura. "Classic Lindbergh – Responsible for defining the era of the supermodel". Harper's Bazaar, 2009. Golden, R & Peterson, F & Kramer, G. The Truth about Eating Disorders. New York: Infobase, 2009. Janet Rose, M. The Contemporary Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009. Read More