Body Image on the Media - Research Paper Example

Lecturer Body Image on the media Introduction Today’s society, several magazines, movies, commercials on TVs and advertisements are filled with Media’s unattainable body image ideals. Studies indicate ways through which the body image, eating patterns, self-esteem and the body image of women are negatively affected by what they see and hear from the media. The endorsement of the Medias portrayal of the ideal body image socially has led disturbance in the image of several women as well as implicating eating disorders development in some of the women. Women who are exposed to images that are non-appearance related are satisfied with their body shape compared to those who have been exposed to the appearance related images. Those who are less satisfied with their body image tend to have low self-esteem than their counterparts who are satisfied (López-Guimerà et al., 387). According to Schooler et al. Several female magazines that are popular inform women to focus mainly on their outside attributes, physical and rarely talk on the importance of having other attributes that are positive. The representation of the thin ideal according to the media is connected to the dissatisfaction of the body image and disorders of dieting that are predominant. There is a significant connection between the body image and the media. This connection is critical, sometimes low body image leads to eating disorders that can lead to death. Interventions have to be done to reduce women who are dying from disorders of body image disturbance. Discovering the link existing between the media and body image is vital in finding successful interventions. Focus The purpose of this study determines the exposure of women to images of the ideal thin on the media and how it negatively affects the perception of the body image. It is stated that one of the strongest transmitters of the pressure to resemble what is believed to be the ideal body image depends on the mass media portrayal of the image. Statement of the problem The aim of this study is to substantiate the Medias influence on the body image in the society. Data was collected using the body image states scale. It consists of six questions on a Likert scale entailing either satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the body shape and size. The subjects under study were divided into experimental and control groups. The control groups were given the BISS whereas the experimental group was shown a PowerPoint presentation showing images of women followed by the BISS for 120 seconds. Hypothesis The more a woman is exposed to several images of “ideal body image” through the media, the more her body image gets affected There is no difference on the feelings regarding the physical appearance between the experimental group and the control group There is no difference on the satisfaction between the control and the experimental groups. There is no difference on the feelings about the looks of both control and experimental groups compared to other women. Assumptions The research assumed the followings during the research process The respondents answered the questionnaires honestly There are different body image levels The representatives of the ideal body image are the media images Literature review This chapter outlines an overview of the literature on the body image and the portrayal of the ideal body by the media. Body image Body image has been defined in different ways depending on different authors. Derenne and Beresin defined body image as an individual thought, perceptions and feelings pertaining their body overall. This includes even appearance, race, age, sexuality and function. They discussed body image as a multidimensional part of humankind consisting of an emotional dimension as well as a cognitive part. The dimensions responsible for cognitive body image include self-statement and beliefs about the body. Emotional body image entails experience of the individual’s appearance, whether the experience experiences are uncomfortable or comfortable and whether there is a satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the body. Body image is an experience that is subjective; it depends on how individuals interpret themselves. How an individual perceives her body is the same way she perceives herself. Borzekowski and Bayer concurred with Derenne and Beresin that body image can be viewed in a multidimensional perspective; in addition to this, they identified three aspects: cognition and affect regarding body, importance of body and dieting behavior and body image perception. The dimensions of cognition relate beliefs and thoughts about an individual’s shape of the body and the affective dimensions include an individual’s feelings towards the appearances of their body. Importance of body and the behaviors of dieting can be described as the behaviors linked and related to the dieting and grooming of a person. Women who spend much of their time focusing on the shape of their body tend to engage in more behaviors relating to dieting and grooming than the women who never focus on their body shape. Finally, body image perception can be described as an individual accuracy when judging their body size, shape, and weight. Even though several researchers do concur with one another that the body image is multidimensional what they fail to agree is on the nature of the dimensions that constitute the body image construct. Body image is said not to be static in nature; it can experience changes with time in few minutes. Watching television or any form of media can change an individual’s body image by influencing their thinking ion their weight, appearance, and attractiveness. Women who have negative body image have negative attitudes towards themselves. In some women, the negative attitude may simply be minor annoyances whereas, in some, the negative feelings may lead to distress thus interferes with their daily life. When negative body image gets severe, it can lead to disorders such as low self-esteem. Body image is learned and tends to be influenced mainly by self-esteem. Blaivas, Levine, and Murnen indicate that body image is psychological in nature. Body image is more about the esteem of an individual and less about the attractiveness that us seen physically as judged by many. The media The media have been a source of great influence for several years in the society. It decides what the society sees and how it should be portrayed. In the media, women in the society are normally portrayed as being thin and without any sort of imperfection. The media show the thin women as successful and happy. The results of this media image lead to women seeking for plastic surgeries, drastic dieting and other negative effects such as low self-esteem, negative body image and eating disorders (van den Berg et al., 257). Media’s portrayal of women The portrayal of women as being thin by the media seems to be widespread. The media create the notion that these thin women are found everywhere in the society using TVs, magazines, and even billboards to show the public of their stand. The fact remains that those women who are portrayed as being thin are nowhere in the society, and they are not our neighbors, our friends or even our family members. In fact, they are images of women that most women in our society cannot attain to be like. These people are the models who have stylists to do their make-ups and hair; their stylists make them to the point of ridding away any imperfection. These women are posed to look sexy, and they are images of the media. It is true that most women in our society cannot live up to these media images because so many women in the society do not have their stylists hence cannot hide their imperfections (Carper, Negy, and Tantleff-Dunn, 301). The media portray the beauty of women in unrealistic images. The art of advertisement has historically included unrealistic and stereotypical images of women. The thin ideals being portrayed by the media make women focus on the appearance and the shape of a woman body. In some magazines, the cultural message that was seen was that women are expected to spend most of their time and engage in behaviors that will make them appear physically attractive. How the media affect women Women are affected with the media in several ways. The images of the thin ideals presented by the media might affect many women’s body satisfaction and moods negatively. Media make some women to feel dissatisfied with their shape of the body. This makes them resort to measures that are extreme such as dieting, smoking more and going through reconstructive surgeries to reach the ideal thin. Another powerful force in creating the ideal thin woman has been mass marketing of body images. As many magazines on loss of weight, dieting and exercise are increasing, it has been noted that there is a corresponding increase in eating disorders occurrence in the society. This makes women to go through pain so that they can be able to change their bodies to the ideal shape and size portrayed by the media. Women go through a lot of negative feelings when they get exposed to the ideal thin of the media (Holmstrom, 196). When they are exposed, they tend to feel shameful, stressed, depressed and unhappy that leads to a decrease in their level of confidence. The ideal image being portrayed by many popular forms of media have negative impacts on the affective state and satisfaction of the females who are reading and watching. Women tend to develop negative feelings when they are exposed to the ideal media image. Many women and adolescents have tendencies of developing body perception that s distorted when exposed to the medias perception of the image (Ricciardelli, McCabe, and Banfield, 189). The media spreads out the lie to the public that the beauty has to do with some of the social benefits and advantages. In addition, the media have also be found to be sending information that is conflicting to the women. The magazines that target women send information on dieting, weight control, and exercise articles. The information that seems to be conflicting is that women are expected to be eating sweets and snacks and at the same time staying beautiful and thin (Hogan and Strasburger, 521). Methodology This chapter discusses the type of methodology that was used in the study. Then it will be followed by a description of the subjects of the study and how they were selected to participate. Procedures, collection, and analysis of data will also be described. Selection and description of subjects Subjects who were selected to participate in this study were full-time female population age between 15 to 25 years who were willing to take part in the research. The subjects under study were randomly assigned the experimental group or a control group. The experimental group was given a consent form with instructions and viewed a PowerPoint slide on media images of women for 120 seconds. This was then followed by the BISS whereas the control group was only administered with the BISS to complete the directions and informed consent. Instrumentation The BISS (Body Image State Scale) was used during this study. BISS is made up of six questions that try to ask about the physical appearance of the subject at a certain time. BISS highlights out six experience of the body: a) satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the body shape and size b) satisfaction/dissatisfaction with an individual’s physical appearance c) dissatisfaction/ satisfaction with a persons weight d) individuals feeling of unattractiveness/ attractiveness e) the present feelings of an individual’s looks compared to how they usually feel f) evaluation of an individual’s look. Procedures The data was collected from any willing participant aged 15 to 25 years. The study had a control group and another experimental group. The BISS was issued to the control group, and the other administered to the experimental group. The control group who received the BISS and directions were read to them loudly and clearly. After the completion of the test, the results were collected from the subjects of study. After completing the BISS, the control group was dismissed. For the other group, there was an informed consent as well as an introduction to the study was all discussed and explained. After which a 120-second PowerPoint was a displayed on the concept of the ideal body shape and size. The BISS was then read out loudly to the group, and when it was filled, the BISS was then collected from the subjects. Data analysis Independent sample tests were used in analyzing the data collected. The t-test was then used in finding out any difference of statistical significance between the experimental and the control group scores on the BISS, as well as their total scores. Each of the six questions on the BISS was analyzed using a t-test. This means and the standard deviation of the data collected were also determined. Limitation The media images used may not have been the real identical of the thin media image The treatment that was received by the experiment group may not have had a strong effect since women are exposed to the Medias thin ideals on a daily basis Results The analysis of the data found no significant difference between the two groups under study. The mean for the control group was 5.0 whereas 4.96 for the experimental group. t-test on The Feelings About Their Looks in Comparison to Others Group M SD df t p Control 5.00 1.00 41 .105 .917 Experimental 4.96 1.488___________________________________________ t-test On the Groups Feelings Regarding Their Look Group M SD df t p Control 4.95 1.129 41 2.787 .008* Experimental 4.04 .999 t-test on Feelings About Physical Attractiveness Between The Two Groups Group M SD df t p Control 6.05 1.224 41 2.260 .029* Experimental 4.96 1.805 t-test on Satisfaction With Body Size and Shape Between the Control and Experimental Group Group M SD df t p Control 5.42 2.11 4 41 1.47 6 .147 Experimental 4.33 2.390 Conclusion The research shows that there was a slight change on the body image of the experimental group, and two of the six areas were changed after viewing the PowerPoint images. This study found significant differences between the two groups that were under study pertaining on how they felt on physical attraction. The experimental group seemed less attractive whereas the control group was feeling neither attractive nor unattractive in their appearance. The holistic portrayal may have been the main reason there was no much difference between the control and the experimental groups pertaining their overall physical attractiveness. The control groups had similar feeling on their looks whereas the experimental group felt slightly bad compared to their usual feeling. This means that they felt worse than their usual general looks. Recommendation The study only involved a small population. When this study is put under replication, a wider range of state or country should be used to get a better result that reflect the general public. Work cited Blaivas, Jerry G., M. P. Levine, and S. K. Murnen. “The Effect of Experimental Presentation of Thin Media Images on Body Satisfaction: A Meta-Analytic Review.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 2002 : 1–16. Borzekowski, Dina L G, and Angela M. Bayer. “Body Image and Media Use among Adolescents.” Adolescent Medicine Clinics 2005 : 289–313. Carper, T. L M, Charles Negy, and Stacey Tantleff-Dunn. “Relations among Media Influence, Body Image, Eating Concerns, and Sexual Orientation in Men: A Preliminary Investigation.” Body Image 7 (2010): 301–309. Derenne, Jennifer L., and Eugene V. Beresin. “Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders.” Academic Psychiatry 2006 : 257–261. Hogan, Marjorie J., and Victor C. Strasburger. “Body Image, Eating Disorders, and the Media.” Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews 19 (2008): 521–546. Print. Holmstrom, A. J. “The Effects of the Media on Body Image : A Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 48 (2004): 196–217. López-Guimerà, Gemma et al. “Influence of Mass Media on Body Image and Eating Disordered Attitudes and Behaviors in Females: A Review of Effects and Processes.” Media Psychology 2010 : 387–416. Ricciardelli, Lina A., Marita P. McCabe, and Sophie Banfield. “Body Image and Body Change Methods in Adolescent Boys Role of Parents, Friends, and the Media.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research 49 (2000): 189–197. Schooler, Deborah et al. “Who’s That Girl: Televisions Role in the Body Image Development of Young White and Black Women.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 28 (2004): 38–47. Van den Berg, Patricia et al. “Body Dissatisfaction and Body Comparison with Media Images in Males and Females.” Body Image 4 (2007): 257–268. Read More