Introduction
There has been a dramatic shift, within the last couple of decades, on how women perceive their body. Unfortunately this shift has been significantly negative in nature. Women in today’s society are more dissatisfied with their bodies than ever before. The main culprit, which has driven this downward trend, is mass media. Mass media is very much a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has increased global connectivity and has allowed for the perpetuation of information in a very fast and efficient fashion. On the other hand, it has facilitated the spread of unhealthy and inaccurate messages regarding body size, weight control, beauty ideal, and gender roles of women. These messages have infiltrated society and have sparked a …show more content…
The prevalence of negative body image is at an all time high, particularly among adolescent females. The ramifications for this are detrimental and constitute in-depth examination. The purpose of this research report is to critically review studies that explore the effects of media on female body image and disordered eating. Ultimately, by understanding the issue in a more comprehensive manner, solutions can be offered to combat the negative effects of television, magazines, and social media on female audiences.
Literature Review The impact of mass media on society as a whole is unparalleled. The strength of its influence is so robust because of the amount of time that individuals spend on outlets such as the Internet and television. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, television has become (after sleep) children’s primary activity. Bercedo Sanz (2005) states, “On average adolescents consume around 3 to 3.8 hours a day of television.” (P. 388). It is not a stretch to conclude that media and technology occupies much of our leisure time. This fact is crucial because mass media conveys the attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors that socialize and formulate the social reality of individuals that use them on a constant basis. Young children and adolescents are extremely impressionable and often fall prey to the messages that …show more content…
This study was briefly alluded to in the commentary but was also covered in depth in this Meta Analysis. This naturalistic study examined the impact of television on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of adolescent girls. Becker, Burwell, Gilman, Herzog, and Hamburg (2002) state “Just three years after television reception became widespread, the percentage of girls with high levels of disordered eating attitudes doubled from 13% to 29%.” (P. 395). Even more shocking, the presence of television resulted in 74% of girls reporting feeling unattractive. The effects of mass media on disordered eating habits were three times more potent when a television was readily accessible within the home. Aesthetically, traditional Fijian cultural favors a full-bodied shape and advocates for a hearty diet with no limitations. Although these cultural ideals were predominant for decades before the advent of television, It only took a few years to overturn these values to ones that were, quite literally, the opposite of what was previously preferred. The results of this study are eye opening, in that it reflects how quickly these destructive ideas about body image can infiltrate and remold cultural ideals. Furthermore it illustrates how media is becoming a much more powerful influence. That is, the women in mass media are now
There has been a dramatic shift, within the last couple of decades, on how women perceive their body. Unfortunately this shift has been significantly negative in nature. Women in today’s society are more dissatisfied with their bodies than ever before. The main culprit, which has driven this downward trend, is mass media. Mass media is very much a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has increased global connectivity and has allowed for the perpetuation of information in a very fast and efficient fashion. On the other hand, it has facilitated the spread of unhealthy and inaccurate messages regarding body size, weight control, beauty ideal, and gender roles of women. These messages have infiltrated society and have sparked a …show more content…
The prevalence of negative body image is at an all time high, particularly among adolescent females. The ramifications for this are detrimental and constitute in-depth examination. The purpose of this research report is to critically review studies that explore the effects of media on female body image and disordered eating. Ultimately, by understanding the issue in a more comprehensive manner, solutions can be offered to combat the negative effects of television, magazines, and social media on female audiences.
Literature Review The impact of mass media on society as a whole is unparalleled. The strength of its influence is so robust because of the amount of time that individuals spend on outlets such as the Internet and television. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, television has become (after sleep) children’s primary activity. Bercedo Sanz (2005) states, “On average adolescents consume around 3 to 3.8 hours a day of television.” (P. 388). It is not a stretch to conclude that media and technology occupies much of our leisure time. This fact is crucial because mass media conveys the attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors that socialize and formulate the social reality of individuals that use them on a constant basis. Young children and adolescents are extremely impressionable and often fall prey to the messages that …show more content…
This study was briefly alluded to in the commentary but was also covered in depth in this Meta Analysis. This naturalistic study examined the impact of television on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of adolescent girls. Becker, Burwell, Gilman, Herzog, and Hamburg (2002) state “Just three years after television reception became widespread, the percentage of girls with high levels of disordered eating attitudes doubled from 13% to 29%.” (P. 395). Even more shocking, the presence of television resulted in 74% of girls reporting feeling unattractive. The effects of mass media on disordered eating habits were three times more potent when a television was readily accessible within the home. Aesthetically, traditional Fijian cultural favors a full-bodied shape and advocates for a hearty diet with no limitations. Although these cultural ideals were predominant for decades before the advent of television, It only took a few years to overturn these values to ones that were, quite literally, the opposite of what was previously preferred. The results of this study are eye opening, in that it reflects how quickly these destructive ideas about body image can infiltrate and remold cultural ideals. Furthermore it illustrates how media is becoming a much more powerful influence. That is, the women in mass media are now