A current definition of body image would include a person's thoughts, perceptions, and feelings about their own body (Grogan, 1999). The issues that pertain to body image within society today is maintained through the media and how it’s portrayed. No matter how unrealistic it may be to achieve, thinness and fitness are valued as the media depicts that the ideal female bodies are those of models and actresses. Social media, influenced by the consumer and capitalist society, has illustrated an underlying message that unless a woman is slim, she is not healthy, desirable, or confident and therefore will not go far in the social world. Writer Allen Ginsberg once said; “Whoever controls the media— the images—controls the culture” (Maclean’s, Page
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There are a number of different theories and explanations about the cause of body-image problems and the more serious disorders that can arise as a consequence. One of the most prominent explanations involves the heavy sociocultural influence in which a desire for thinness for women is reflected and reinforced by the media (Slade, 1994). People are not affected equally by exposure to media images. Some react quickly and strongly to body images while others are resistant, which can result in the differences with people's individual traits. People who are more self-conscious, who place more importance on appearance, who are heavier, and who have symptoms of eating disorders are more swayed by these images (Tiggemann, 2002).Three sociological theories that are particularly useful in understanding how media images affect people differently include the social comparison theory, the self-schema theory, and the self-discrepancy theory. The social comparison theory was developed in the 1950’s by Leon Festinger. He theorized that for people to evaluate themselves, they must compare themselves to others – not only to others in face-to-face interactions, but also to media images. Secondly, the self-schema theory suggests that people develop a sense of self by considering what makes them unique and valuable, arranging these into schemas. These type of people are more likely to place more importance on media images and messages about body image. Lastly, the self-discrepancy theory suggests that people carry on an idealize image of the person they wish to be. Discrepancies between this ideal and the actual perception of themselves can cause them severe unhappiness which can lead to stress and depression. Media images contribute to the formation of these idealized images. (Grogan, 2008).
There are a number of different theories and explanations about the cause of body-image problems and the more serious disorders that can arise as a consequence. One of the most prominent explanations involves the heavy sociocultural influence in which a desire for thinness for women is reflected and reinforced by the media (Slade, 1994). People are not affected equally by exposure to media images. Some react quickly and strongly to body images while others are resistant, which can result in the differences with people's individual traits. People who are more self-conscious, who place more importance on appearance, who are heavier, and who have symptoms of eating disorders are more swayed by these images (Tiggemann, 2002).Three sociological theories that are particularly useful in understanding how media images affect people differently include the social comparison theory, the self-schema theory, and the self-discrepancy theory. The social comparison theory was developed in the 1950’s by Leon Festinger. He theorized that for people to evaluate themselves, they must compare themselves to others – not only to others in face-to-face interactions, but also to media images. Secondly, the self-schema theory suggests that people develop a sense of self by considering what makes them unique and valuable, arranging these into schemas. These type of people are more likely to place more importance on media images and messages about body image. Lastly, the self-discrepancy theory suggests that people carry on an idealize image of the person they wish to be. Discrepancies between this ideal and the actual perception of themselves can cause them severe unhappiness which can lead to stress and depression. Media images contribute to the formation of these idealized images. (Grogan, 2008).