User:Cherie123/“fairy tale” feminine beauty idea

What is society’s view of the “perfect body”? The models seen in the media are usually a size zero and are underweight. Helga Dittmar (2009) talked about how woman and girls have this ‘body perfect ideal” as being ultra-thin. She defines “body perfect ideal” as models being underweight. She defined underweight as a body mass index of less than 16. She also stated that our societies view of the new extreme of size “zero” dress size represents a starvation-level body mass index of well below 16 when the normal is between 24.9 and 19 and that a body mass index of 16 is well in the range of anorexia. America has become a size zero, ultra-thin obsessed society in the past couple of decades. The models presented in the media have become thinner in the last Twenty five years. Twenty five years ago the average model was only weighed 8% less than the average women, now the average model weight is 23% less than the average women. When young girls and boys look at the media they see ultra-thin or muscular people. This may lead them to think they are not what society looks at as the “perfect body ideal” and will go to extremes, such as eating disorders and supplements to achieve this unachievable body image. Where do these views of the “perfect body” come from? There are several things that influence this idea such as the media, family and friends, and even the toys children play with. Such dolls as Barbie can influence young girls that they should look a certain way because that’s what their toys look like even though this image is impossible to achieve. Helga Dittmar (2009) reported that this idea of the “body perfect” ideals can be communicated early in our childhood through exposure to dolls such as Barbie. Girls between the ages of 5-7 years of age reported lower self-esteem and a larger desire for a thinner body after exposure to such dolls (Paragraph 3). Tara Kuther and Erin McDonald agreed that Barbie influences girls’ ideas about body image and what society perceives as attractive. The article stated that Barbie is among a girls first or second favorite toy between the ages 8-12. Researchers said that Barbie is seen as being attractive even though her body is impossible to achieve (2004). It’s hard to believe that something as innocent as a doll can influence young girls that they should look a certain way, but because this is what society says is beautiful or the perfect body they think they should look this way. Action figure such as GI Joe also have the same effects on young boys. When they see that the action figure is strong and muscular they want to achieve this body as well. According Christopher P Barlett, Christopher L Vowels, Donald A Saucier (2008) research also shows that action figure over the last thirty years have become increasing larger (paragraph 6). This has contributed to this idea that males need to be strong and muscular. How can this problem of negative body image be solved? There are several ways this problem can be solved, one way is to use model that are of an average size of 10-12 so young girls can see that to be healthy is more beautiful than to be thin. Another way is to not put as much pressure on our youth to look a certain way, allow them to be themselves. Teasing is also a large problem. Peers can be really mean when it comes to appearance and body image. Maybe if there was some kind of class youth could go to, to understand what their words can really do to a person they may think twice before they say them. Negative body image is always going to be a problem but by having someone there that a child could talk to about it also helps. Our society also needs more support groups for people with negative body image so they can vent to people who understand where they are coming from. Sports also contribute to negative body image. Sports should be fun young girls and boys should not have to worry about how much they weight just because of a sport. In an article I read by Cay Crow talked about something that has already been done to help with negative body image. It is a day for body appreciate, which is October 20th and it a day to love your body. The message of this day is for men and women to not let our body negative culture rule our lives. It reminds people that they are beautiful the way they are and no matter what the media says it true. There are several messages presented in our media such as you’re not thin enough, buff enough, or tan enough. This day is just a reminder to everyone out there that they are enough without improvement (2004). I think this is a great day for America to have because it reminds people that they are beautiful even if they are not a size zero or an ultra-thin model. Negative body image is something that affects almost everyone in our society at some time in their life. In an article by Patricia McLaughlin (1994) she stated that around 25 percent of girls age 7 have tried to lose weight and by about 18 80 percent of girl have succeed at it. Also eleven percent of high school girls have an eating disorder (paragraph 5). It is amazing to think about a young girl being on a diet to lose weight but in reality one in four seven year old girls are trying to. Body image is definitely something our society needs to address because it can lead to eating disorders and depression, If these things are not caught early can even lead to death in extreme cases. By realizing this is a real problem our society can go about trying to solve it. I also believe that by showing people that they contribute to these ideas maybe they could be a little more open minded and less judgmental of people. A lot of people have a negative view of their body now or at least sometime in their life even if they don’t express them, so understanding where people obtain such views can better our society and help young children to be not effect by these views.

References

Christopher P Barlett, Christopher L Vowels, Donald A Saucier(2008). META-ANALYSES OF THE EFFECTS OF MEDIA IMAGES ON MEN'S BODY-IMAGE CONCERNS. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. New York: Mar 2008. Vol. 27, Iss. 3; pg. 279, 32 pgs. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=14&did=1464314641&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1258428641&clientId=10076

Cederquist, Caroline J. (2005). Teens think they're slimmer than they are! New York Beacon, Vol. 12, Iss. 43; pg. 15. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=22&did=976052511&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257115463&clientId=10076

Helga Dittmar (2009). HOW DO "BODY PERFECT" IDEALS IN THE MEDIA HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BODY IMAGE AND BEHAVIORS? FACTORS AND PROCESSES RELATED TO SELF AND IDENTITY. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 28, Iss. 1; pg. 1, 8 pgs. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=0&did=1642953551&SrchMode=2&sid=7&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257117542&clientId=10076

Hayley K. Dohnt1 and Marika Tiggemann. (2005). Body Image Concerns in Young Girls: The Role of Peers and Media Prior to Adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 35, No. 2, April 2006, pp. 141–151. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=1&did=1049496351&SrchMode=5&Fmt=6&retrieveGroup=0&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257117181&clientId=10076

Tara L Kuther, Erin McDonald (2004). EARLY ADOLESCENTS' EXPERIENCES WITH, AND VIEWS OF, BARBIE. Adolescence, Vol. 39, Iss. 153; pg. 39, 13 pgs. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=0&did=652865461&SrchMode=2&sid=5&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257117405&clientId=10076

Patricia McLaughlin (1994). Self-help author stresses learning to love your body; [SOONER Edition]. . Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pa.: Jun 8, 1994. pg. 2. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=1&did=77653934&SrchMode=2&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1258431596&clientId=10076

Joanna Moorhead (2003). Families: Who's a pretty girl? ; Today's young girls become fixated with their looks at an ever younger age. But while mothers may blame the media for their daughters' poor self-image, really they should look at their feelings about their own bodies, says JOANNA MOORHEAD; [FOREIGN Edition]. The Independent. London (UK): Jun 9, 2003. pg. 12.13. retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=3&did=358213331&SrchMode=5&Fmt=3&retrieveGroup=0&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257117254&clientId=10076

Rheanna N. Ata, Alison Bryant Ludden, Megan M. Lally (2006). The Effects of Gender and Family, Friend, and Media Influences on Eating Behaviors and Body Image During Adolescence. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from      http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2052/pqdweb?index=0&did=1372748821&SrchMode=5&Fmt=6&retrieveGroup=0&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257115607&clientId=10076