American Culture Impacts Lives

            “Women- and their body parts- sell everything from food to cars” (Givhan). Women with big boobs or the perfect butt, according to media’s standards, receive more recognition through prominent advertisments. The provocative appearance these women express in magazines, billboards, and TV commercials appeal to men and therefore, sell. However, these women not only advertise products but also unhealthy bodies. Almost all movie stars, models and singers today are extremely skinny.  These women and their skinny, perfect bodies, set a standard that ladies in America look up to.  This standard leaves average healthy women, teens, and girls feeling large and not beautiful. The pressure for women to have skinny bodies in return for success and beauty is a lie and an unnecessary standard which mainstream American culture presents. 

            The standard which women face to be skinny leads many to bad implications that affect the rest of their life. Eating Disorders is a large cause due to the pressure to be slim. In America, “eating disorders affect more than 7 million girls and women” (Zimmerman).  Some females suffer from anorexia, where the weight one loses “is primarily the result of a severe and selective restriction of food intake, with foods viewed as fattening being excluded” (Fairburn and Harrison).  Constant concern about their weight is detrimental to their well being and causes them to suffer by not getting a sufficient amount of nutrients in their food intake. Other women, who generally enjoy eating, suffer from bulimia. These individuals “self- induce vomit...in view of the social pressure on them to be thin” (Fairburn and Harrison).  Self induced vomiting is extremely dire to one’s health because of the acid it leaves in the lungs. However, unlike women who are anorexic, women who are bulimic eat a lot and thus it is harder to notice an eating disorder.  When one notices an eating disorder in process, it’s important to act fast, as the consequences of these conditions can be severe and eventually deadly. It may also be beneficial for one to see a dietitian. These people are exceptionally good at helping one stay slim while maintaining a healthy diet.  In addition to eating disorders, some women spend numerous dollars on plastic surgery in hope of feeling better about their appearance. In recent years, women have sought the opportunity to change their appearance by “plastic surgery and major makeovers in reality TV shows” (Cochrane). Although plastic surgeons may take off weight to change part of females appearance, this does not diminish the fact women will probably still struggle with their body image. Furthermore, women feel urged to buy diet pills and fitness equipment off info commercials that falsely advertise. These products are expensive and “normally say in small font, results not typical” (“Women Eating”).  However, many, not realizing this, spend lots of money buying products that will not affect their appearance.   The unfortunate circumstances women cope with because of society’s emphasis on body figures is important to address, so society can help those struggling.

            Actors, models, and TV stars stand as role models in society, to whom women draw ideas that success and beauty comes by being skinny and flawless.  Model companies disappoint many women by not hiring them as a “show girl,” because they are not a size zero. Although agencies could sign women with “‘normal’ bodies, they wouldn’t work the shows let alone get print campaigns. Until designers change the sample size, it’s only going to be size-zero models that fit the garments” (Cochrane). Designer’s decisions to make undersized clothing for models leave women who are healthy feeling big. Additionally, ‘chick flick’s’ and reality TV shows, such as Gossip Girls, are prevalent among women and teens.  Today most “popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller, and thinner” (Givhan). The fact that producers are frequently hiring skinny actresses leave women and teens watching movies and TV shows the impression that being skinny makes them attractive. However, women need to see that “things aren’t always portrayed accurately in movies” (Schall).  In almost all “chick flicks,” the lead actress is skinny and popular, which traps women and teens to believe that being skinny equals good looks, no problems, and instant popularity.   However, being overly thin does not cause instant popularity, but something for more for women to gossip about. Role models of America need to change their body image before they corrupt the healthy girls and women of America.

            Young girls desire to follow the lead of people older than them.  Body images come into minds of girls at a young age, some drawing ideas from dolls with which they play. Research shows that “99% of girls aged 3-10 years old own at least one Barbie” (Givhan). Barbie’s perfect figure, clothed with the latest fashion, extenuates sexiness leaving young girls to believe they too should be tall and flawless.  Barbie dolls proportions are not realistic to normal size women.  Studies on Barbie “found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her body and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver.  A real woman this size would suffer from chronic diarrhea and die from malnutrition” (Givhan). Parent’s allowing their children to play with these dolls encourages young eyes to have a body image that is not livable. Manufactures of all dolls and miniature stars need to make the female body shape adequate to proportionate dimensions, so the doll is a healthy size for girls to follow.

            Magazines, movies, TV shows, and billboards are applications of American culture in the media which indicate to women that slim and perfect body figures equal happiness and success. Magazines today give false incentives for women to lose weight. Women’s magazines “are full of articles urging that if they can just lose the those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all- the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and rewarding career” (Givhan). These lies influence women to forfeit their health for an unrealistic lifestyle. In addition, model agencies, billboard companies and magazines companies using Photoshop have negatively influenced women’s appearance in the media by changing their actual picture to one that has been cleared of blemishes and fat. Fashion designer, “Ralph Lauren was criticized for air brushing a picture of one of its models so much that the women’s head ended up being thicker than her waist” (Harris). Changes made in Photoshop are not only wrong for the women’s sake but a mere lie to the public on her actual appearance. Women should be “encouraged to examine the possibility that the bodies of magazine models are just Photoshoped images with unreal body measurements” (Sheldon). Women need to know that is it not possible to have flawless skin, a fatless body, and no wrinkles it is a mere lie. Furthermore, the lead female actors in movies are portrayed as good athletes, rich, popular and having great boyfriends. However, these characters are “applauded for being allowed to appear on prime-time television weighing more than a packet of crisps” (Penny). Weighing nothing is dangerous and a detrimental role model for teens trying to find their niche in life. This also leaves many girls the impression “if your skinny your happy” (Schall).   Women need to understand that being slim and perfect is an unrealistic lifestyle, but by being healthy, one can live a wonderful life.

            Little changes throughout the media can change the negative influence on society to a positive influence. A change in one family can positively change many families.  Society can not change “overnight, but a good place to start is in our own homes” (Zimmerman).  Counseling children at home about having a healthy body gives them a stable foundation to follow, rather than turn to the media.  Research showed that a person with a “positive body image has a real perception of his or her size and shape and feels comfortable with his or her body” (Cochrane).  Therefore, if parents encourage their kids to not worry about their weight, it is less likely they will suffer from the media’s allusions to be slim.  This might include prohibiting certain dolls, magazines, movies and TV shows that negatively portray body image to kids and teens. In addition, mothers setting a healthy example can impact their children and teens thoughts on self image.  Unfortunately many “mothers obsess over their own bodies and pass the same behavior down to their daughters.” (Zimmerman). Mothers need to become more comfortable with their own body image and their daughters will be likely to as well. Furthermore, magazines need to stop editing the photos of stars and models in articles. One Canadian magazine company “Chatelaine, has pledged not to touch up photos” (Givhan).  Magazine companies pledging they will not touch up photos allows for a more honest analysis of women in the media and shows society that stars and models are not perfect.  Small changes by companies and families can further deal with the media’s improper ideals for a women’s body figure and demonstrate the positive influence on women when companies and families change.

            The issue at hand with women and young girls today struggling with eating disorders goes much beyond the media’s emphasis for sexy and skinny bodies. The impact by a friend’s skinny body or a comment that made fun of one’s size are other causes of the pressure women feel to be skinny. Therefore, the call to act upon others influences goes much further than the media but to people young and old in everyday society.  People today need to watch out for signs of an eating disorder, even in those one might least suspect could be struggling.  It is also vital to watch what is said to others because comments can cause one to suffer both emotionally and physically.  As seen in society today, the media can make a negative impact, work to make that impact positive.

Works Cited

“Women Eating Disorder Due to Male Pressure.” American Dietetic Association.
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Cochrane, Kira. “Women: From Fat…to Very Very Skinny.” The Guardian.
          (Mar 2010): 21. Pro Quest. 19 Web. 31 Oct 2010.

Fairburn, Christopher, Paul Harrison. “Eating Disorders Today.” The Lancet. 361:
          9355. (Feb 2003): 407. eLibaray. Web. 1 Nov 2010.

Givhan, Robin. “Beauty and Body Image in the Media.” The Washington Post.
          (Jul 2010): 1. Siris Researcher. Web. 4 Nov 2010.

Harris, Paul. “Air Brushing.” The Observer. (Sep 2010): 25. Guardian Newspapers
          Limited. 4 Nov 2010.

Penny, Laurie. “Wrong Model, Right Idea.” New Statesman. 139:5014
         (Aug 2010). Pro Quest. Web. 4 Nov 2010.

Schall, Dave. Personal interview. 3 Nov 2010.

Sheldon, Pavica. “Pressure to be Perfect: Influences on College Students.”
         The Southern Communication. Journal. 75:3.
         (Jul 2010): 277.  Proquest. Web. 4 Nov 2010.

Zimmerman, Jill. “Our Bodies, Our Daughters.” Mothering. (Spring 1997): 72-77.

          Siris Researcher. Web. 31 Oct 2010.

Anorexia Commercial Project

If you know of someone struggling with being too slim, this video explicitly shares this disaster.

Eating Disorders Public Service TV

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This video addresses the questions girls, teens, and women have going through their mind daily. The pressure society puts of women forces women to question the way they look. Am I too fat? Do I need plastic surgery? Should I go on a diet? These questions are unhealthy for healthy size girls, teens, and women to consider.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week Video

Above is video expressing the extent of what eating disorders can do to ones life.

The pressure women feel to be thin, leads some to eating disorders. There are many different types of eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge. Each of these disorders are different and each have there own complications. I have also posted a good link below that talks alot about what and eating disorder is and the many types. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/WhatIsEd.pdf

All is Fake. Beauty is a Fake

Some women today feel pressure to be thin because of the thin women on billboards, newspapers, and magazine ads. However, many do not realize that theses images are have been changed in photoshop. This movie shows an example of how images are photoshoped to make the women appear 'better'.

Magazines Today

Magazines pressure women to be thin.  This pressure gives women the idea success comes by being skinny.

American Models

These images give a glimpse of female models in American.  Almost all American models are under weight and portray this image to society.  These models give society false hope, in making it seem realistic to live this skinny,