The Malleability Of The Body In Media Representations - Essay Example

?Might the malleability of the body in media representations be positive: encouraging and empowering individuals to live healthy lives? Refer to a specific gender in your response. Introduction In almost all forms of media, the human body is represented in the so-called ideal ways, and these ideal ways and images include very skinny models without an ounce of fat on them. From magazines, television shows, movies, and other forms of media, images of what is considered a beautiful body is represented as model-thin and the overweight bodies are labelled as ugly or less than ideal. The standard of what is considered ‘fat’ or ‘thin’ or even healthy is also very much skewed in the media. Thin is often equated to being healthy, and even a few pounds of fat on a person is already considered as excess fat. The media seems to have set the standards of thinness to be too thin. However, many interest groups insist that we are living in a society of largely overweight and obese individuals and that there is a need to set better standards of healthiness. These opposing arguments do not negate the role of the media in relation to the body. This paper shall consider the query: might the malleability of the body in media representations be positive? Is it encouraging and empowering individuals to live healthy lives? Both genders shall be considered by this paper, however, a focus on the male gender will be highlighted during this discussion. Conflict and consensus theories shall also be utilized for this discussion. Discussion The body’s malleability basically refers to the concept coined by Markus and Kunda on the ‘malleable self’. The authors basically discuss about the malleable self wherein they highlight how people value self presentation and how they often act differently in varying situations based on social norms, situational factors, and cues (Seung, 2010). The malleable self and the malleable body depend on accessible traits, and physical qualities, as well as social roles. The physical aspect of the self is often relevant in the media’s body-image perception and self-representation in the avatar-based environment (Seung, 2010). There is a stark contrast between the self-image and the actual image and this self-image is often based on societal perceptions and interactions. These images portrayed in the media are often unrealistic as they are based on a superficial perception of the human body. In general, body image has been defined as the image or picture of the body which a person forms in his mind, or the way a person’s body appears to a person (Reas, 2002). At present, there has been a growth of interest in the review of body image disturbance, bringing about a growing belief that body image includes various phenomena on perceptual and behavioural features (Reas, 2002). Thompson (1995) was prompted to conclude that body image disturbance is based on various forms of affective, perceptual, and behavioural disturbances which often relate to issues about body size. Various models of body image are being used to explain the perceptions of body image. Developmental models highlight the significance of childhood and adolescence being crucial periods where the development of body image occurs (Heinberg, 1995). Elements like pubertal timing and teasing during these times have been considered as elements which have been seen to contribute to the development of body image (Reas, 2002). Sociocultural models on the other hand, focus on social comparisons and messages which relate to appearance and beauty as significant factors in the establishment of body image. Studies have considered the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and maturational timing among teenagers (Reas, 2002). All in all, the results of these studies exemplify that girls who develop earlier than their contemporaries are more dissatisfied with their bodies, as compared to their contemporaries who develop later (Reas, 2002). These girls also have a greater risk of being teased for having more body fat. In this case, the timing of the onset of puberty is not as important as the presence of teasing or greater body weight among these teenagers (Reas, 2002). Studies like that of Cattarin and Thompson (1994) also supports the notion that the history of teasing, more than the onset of puberty impacts on a negative body image perception. Socio-cultural theories as perpetuated by the media also impact on body image perception. This perception is not even dependent on the onset of puberty because children as early as those in their preschool years are already shown how a person should look and then to judge themselves based on these standards (Reas, 2002). The socio-cultural model sets forth that individuals who often compare their looks to others and to what the media portrays as attractive often have a greater feeling of dissatisfaction with their bodies. A strong support for this model has been seen and in many developed countries, the ideals of society on thinness are promoted as the accepted standard (Reas, 2002). Implied messages from the media and the peers tell children that being thin is the acceptable standard which everyone must live by and this standard can be achieved by any person for as long as he works hard and long enough through diet and exercise (Rodin, 1993). The diet industry has capitalized on these messages by making it a billion dollar industry. The media has bombarded magazines, TV shows, movies, and all its forms with fashion models and TV stars highlighting and celebrating thinness, attractiveness, and happiness as concepts related to each other (Reas, 2002). The preoccupation with weight and with weight loss is very common in the media, and most times, those who are already thin or who are underweight are sometimes dissatisfied with their bodies (Rubenstein and Caballero, 2000). In the current society where obesity has increased to alarming levels, it is alarming to note that the ideal of society for ideal weight has become even thinner. In fact, standards in pageants have actually dropped from the levels seen during the 1920s and even up to the 1950s. The WHO actually considers these standards to be undernourished (Rubenstein and Caballero, 2000). Various health experts also argue that ideal body images as presented by the media and the toy manufacturers to women of all ages span the age range from adolescence to adulthood. Within the family environment, the thin person is also often equated to the good person. Moreover, studies actually reveal that children who are in a family environment where a family member highlights the importance of appearance learn to be very preoccupied with their weight and appearance (Rubenstein and Caballero, 2000). With the exaggerated concern with body shape and size which dominates Western society, it is unsurprising to note the extent to which overweight individuals encounter social discrimination. It is unfortunate that overweight individuals actually receive lesser salaries than those who are not obese and the negative perceptions of obese individuals often dictate people’s treatment of these individuals (Rubinstein and Caballero, 2000). These obese individuals are often stigmatized or reprimanded for being lazy and for not having self control. Such stigmatization often adds to the feelings of insecurity which these obese individuals already feel. The stigma against the obese has risen throughout the years and has driven many of these obese individuals to try as many weight loss activities as they can (Rubenstein and Caballero, 2000). Moreover, the improvement of body image is the main reason for these individuals wanting to lose weight. Many of them are not prompted by their desire to be healthy, but they are driven to lose weight because of their societal perceived need to weigh less or look better (Rubenstein and Caballero, 2000). Among men, the pressure of the ideal body image has a lesser impact. However, the media still represents the ideal male form to be one of chiselled abs and bulging biceps. Moreover, the goal in having such form is to be more attractive, not to stay healthy. A higher muscle mass is preferred to deltoids and abs because apparently these features are more attractive features to have. Scholars have contrasted the aesthetic and the functional elements of the muscular male body when considering its symbolisms in relation to masculinity (Bordo, 2000). At the dawn of the 20th century, the aesthetic characteristics eventually gained acceptance, and industrial developments decreased the functional relevance of muscle power in warfare and technological production (Bordo, 2000). Eventually, the sexually focused public display of the male form in mainstream media reached highs in the 1980s and 1990s. In the images portrayed in the 1980s and 1990s, the male figure became more sexual and these bodies were seen in different stages of undress through advertisements, films, and music videos (Smith, 2002). Moreover, the ideal male image portrayed by the media was that of the increasingly muscular male form. Such a change in imagery has had an impact on the self-image of boys and of men (Peixoto Labre, 2002). Male fashion and body improvement companies promoting appearance enhancing products and services have increased in recent years and excesses in these industries have been apparent. Mental health providers have also reported an increase in the diagnosis for the Adonis complex where men’s dissatisfaction with their image has reached pathological proportions (Castle, 2001). In the gender analysis which has been seen in the previous century, masculine men have been portrayed as active – taking on various tasks all at the same time (Wickman, 2003). They are simply masculine in their activities and women have to struggle to carry out the work that men are able to easily do. In effect, the image of masculinity is largely based on the ‘macho’ image and stereotype. Historically, body image issues have been the province of women; it has not had much impact on males. While, body image is also an important issue to men, it has had a different impact on men because men have been less likely to consider themselves based on such concerns. Their worries are more focused on a perceived loss in social standing (Gregor, 2004). In the traditional sense, the male role has already been delineated, and it is one based on strength and security. However, in the current context, this is no longer true. Men now feel the need to manifest their strength, and to show it physically. In effect, where men were originally defined by their jobs, this has changed over the years and their body is now considered as a means of distinguishing themselves from women (Gregor, 2004). And this body image concern has translated to increased statistics on body dissatisfaction among men with many of them suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and some of them engaging in steroid use to bulk up their muscles and body. Any health concerns on the impact of these activities to their body are relegated to the background. As was previously mentioned, body image has become a major industry in recent years. Cosmetic surgery for men has also increased in rates and the metrosexual man has been borne out of evolving cultural trends (Gregor, 2004). This metrosexual man is considered to be the urban heterosexual male who is very much conscious of his image and spends his money in order to maintain this image. Psychologists counselling adolescent males with body image issues acknowledge the powerful role of the media with regard to how people perceive themselves and other people (Gregor, 2004). The media highlights certain ideal images of what it means to be male and in the body image debate, the media shapes the notion of what it means to grow from a child to an adult male. Studies throughout the years highlight the female struggle with her body image, and now, this struggle has become a struggle for the men as well. Some men want to lose weight and others want to gain it in order to reach that media ‘ideal’ weight. Once again, health concerns are not given much relevance in this struggle. Goals which relate to staying healthy and reducing cholesterol and gaining ideal levels of vitamins and minerals in the body hardly make a mark in this ‘ideal’. The ideal man looks muscular, athletic, has no body hair, is devoid of fat, has flawless skin, and has a classic “V” shaped form (Gregor, 2004). The risk with this image is that the average male has hardly any hope of reaching this ideal shape unless he adapts extreme measures, including expensive gym memberships, taking supplements to bulk up, and is anorexic. Surveys actually confirm that about 68% of body builders who are able to reach the above ideal male form use body enhancing drugs and they continue to use it in order to maintain such shape (Gregor, 2004). The malleability of the body in media representations hardly presents a positive direction in our health. Although they encourage and empower individuals to lose weight, they do not encourage them to do so for healthier reasons. The media representations of ‘ideal’ body images do not portray images based on healthy standards instead they are based on attractiveness of the male and female form. The dissatisfaction with one’s body image is also correlated strongly with eating disorders. High rates of eating disorders among adolescent girls and boys are a strong sign of this obsession with body image. Although the link between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders is less apparent among men, recent statistics also imply increased prevalence in these disorders among men (Furnham, Badmin, and Sneade, 2002). With the increased focus on women suffering from eating disorders, men are now less likely to acknowledge their disorder because they see these eating disorders as female disorders. They also do not identify the symptoms which they may manifest as eating disorders. For example, they would not consider the act of eating large amounts of food to be bingeing (Furnham, et.al., 2002). They may just chalk down the act to having a healthy appetite. As can be seen above, there are strong differences in perceptions of body image among males and females. Where women assess themselves overweight when in actuality, they are not; men, on the other hand, may view themselves as underweight based on objective standards (Furnham, et.al., 2002). And yet again, there is little regard for concerns on living healthy lives. Body image is, in effect, largely based on superficial body qualifications. The image of the attractive body overshadows that of the healthy body – a body which is supposed to help a person fight infection, one which is organ healthy, low in bad cholesterol, one which can serve the person’s daily functions and activities, and one which can potentially live a long life free from chronic diseases. Conclusion Based on the discussion above, the malleability of the body in media representations cannot be deemed positive because although it encourages people to lose weight, it does not encourage them to live healthy lives. The motivations of individuals seem to be based on superficial and ideal body images, images which are not based on healthy standards, but are based on attractiveness standards as portrayed by the media. There is a distorted stigma against being overweight in today’s society and this stigma is mostly against women; however, males too now feel the pressure to reach an ideal body image. Their reasons for wanting to reach such an ideal image is, for the most part also not based on the goal of reaching an ideal or a healthy weight. The media representations of ideal body image also do not focus on the importance of ideal weights and image in relation to diseases and other healthy qualities. In effect, although they may encourage a person to lose weight in order to reach the ideal weight or image, they may do so for all the wrong reasons, using the wrong and unhealthy methods, and without regard for the health impact on their actions on their lives. Works Cited Bordo, S. 2000, The male body. London: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Castle, David J. 2001, Body dysmorphic disorder in men: psychiatric treatments are usually effective, British Medical Journal, vol. 323, pp. 1015–1016. Furnham, A., Badmin, N., & Sneade, I. 2002, Body Image Dissatisfaction: Gender Differences in Eating Attitudes, Self-Esteem, and Reasons for Exercise, The Journal of Psychology, vol. 136(6), pp. 581–596 Gregor, S. 2004, The man behind the mask: male body image dissatisfaction, Psychology, viewed 25 October 2011 from http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/body_image/ Heinberg, L. 1995, Theories of body image disturbance: Perceptual, developmental, and sociocultural factors. In J. K. Thompson (Ed.), Body image, eating disorders, and obesity: An integrative guide for assessment and treatment, Washington D.C.: APA Press. Peixoto Labre, M. 2002, Adolescent boys and the muscular male body ideal, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 30, pp. 233–242. 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