Introduction
Body image refers to the perception of the physical body and incorporates thoughts and feelings and mental representation of how an individual sees themselves as well as how others see them. Body image has become a common discussion in the media with a significant impact on behavior. In the media discussions, body image can be positive, creating feelings of security, love, and value. Negative body image is where it inflicts feelings of shame and increases individual desires to alter their bodies. Research shows that mass media is the primary tool used to impose societal values, and attitudes on men, women, adolescents, and children. The media perpetuates ideas on body image in areas of beauty and skin tone, leading to cravings for incredible beauty (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). The standards are used in the definition of happiness, status, and beauty ideals. Thus, the media has played a critical role in the creation of false ideologies, putting pressure men, women, and children. The media become a source of continual pain for the community depriving them freedom, self-acceptance, and self-esteem.
Women and Media -Body Image and Roles
The media display of women appearance by imposing ideas, values, and attitudes have increased body dissatisfaction among women. The media commonly used in the business world in marketing and sales highly contributes to women cravings for sublime beauty. Many women have fallen prey to these business tactics and have been trapped into accepting the ideologies leading to low self-esteem. The media effect on women is felt through magazines, commercials, newspapers, billboards, and signs, as well as social media (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). The main focus of media is to sell product services and ideas to the public. However, the presentation of products and ideas poses a hidden danger due to the vital role it plays in the formation of body image.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Every individual has a way they see and think of themselves, and this having a body image of self is a common occurrence. The problem arises when women develop a distorted image on self by focusing on the imperfections and their assumption that everyone else focuses on their flaws (Jung & Peterson, 2007). The effect of media on women lies in the perception of body image (Crenshaw, 1997). The media projects various body images in magazines, television adverts, movies, and social media platforms. Most sites portray images of unrealistic body ideals. The images reflect the most admired women with stunning figures, perfect hair, perfect makeup, thin waistlines, and lovely curves.
Body image is an essential factor of individual mental health, self-esteem, and well- being. The emphasis on an appearance on media has created an unrealistic picture of what women think they should look. Only a few women have managed to attain the recommended figure. The rest have been left suffering from self-esteem and low confidence with feelings of failure for failing to measure up to the required standard. The media, therefore, serves as a highlight for individual life where family and friends post their best moments (Crenshaw, 1997). The society especially women, perceive the images of others differently taking what the media show as reality and struggling to achieve the standards and continually comparing themselves with others (Jung & Peterson, 2007). The media, therefore, portrays women as models and actresses. They fail to reveal that the category of women has access to personal trainers, fashion designers, and makeup artists. In many cases, the image they depict may fail to exist in reality.
Men and Media
The media attention has also focused on men, which connects to body image. Men are portrayed as tall, muscular, and masculine. The images show men with a physique that majority of men cannot achieve creating the ideology that men should appear and act as superheroes. Men with negative body image are prone to negative feelings which depending on the intensity cause minor annoyance great distress, which interferes with their performance of everyday life. Very few researches have been conducted on the effects of media on male body image. However, researchers have conducted studies to evaluate a comparison between women and men (Scharrer, 2012). Studies on body image and their effects such as eating disorders indicate that men are victims in the same way women are in their perception of body image. Some studies also showed more effects of body image in men compared to women. The studies addressed the typical stereotypes that only women have issues with their body images.
The media affects male self-esteem and performance in its reports on masculinity and having muscular bodies for men. Studies reveal that men often feel pressured to by media, which has continuously decreased their self- esteem. The impact is seen in the increased muscle sizes shown on magazines and others, such as the modern toy action figures (Scharrer, 2012). Muscle disappointment is due to a decrease in self- esteem, and complacency. Many men desire additional muscle mass to meet the standards indicated in TV adverts and magazines. These studies exposed the fact that constant exposure to mass media has increased pressure in men to strengthen their muscles (Scharrer, 2012). Increased demand further worsens their feelings and attitudes towards their bodies. The results indicated loss of confidence, changes in moods, and increased desire and strive to improve muscle tone.
In contrast to the above findings, most studies have shown that men are less likely to be affected by media. Men are not easily lured to having more reduced appearance satisfaction. Various reports show inconsistencies regarding the impact of media in influencing male body image as well as their self-esteem. In their analysis, the studies claim that men increase their muscle mass as a result of action and exercises as opposed to pressure by the media (Jung & Peterson, 2007). The conclusion obtained from such studies claims a lack of correlation between media exposure of men and loss of self-esteem due to poor body image or strong dissatisfaction.
Children/Teens and Media – The Roles That Media Images Have and Their Influence on The Youth
The assessment claims that the impacts of media exposure appear strongly in women and affects fewer men. however, research has also shown that body anxiety appears in adolescents’ males and females and sometimes children. Adolescents are more vulnerable to media influence, mainly due to their experiences in the transformation of their bodies during puberty (Alper et al., 2016). Findings from primary research indicate that teenagers and children experience body dissatisfaction and develop unhealthy behaviors due to the unrealistic ideals presented by society. In many communities, body image is acquired from early childhood, and studies have shown exhibitions of body dissatisfaction even in young children (Hasinoff, 2014). For teens and children, the perception of the body is learned. The experiences are drawn from many different places, and media is the most common medium of learning. Apart from media, adolescents and children learn about body images from their factors such as personal weight, family environment, peers as well as societal and cultural factors such as class and race. Studies indicated that the television, movies, music, and magazines as the traditional mainstream media exhibit to teens and children unrealistic images which are highly idealized, sexualized, and stereotyped.
Social media is a readily available channel for young people and provide them with the opportunity for self-expression. It provides teens with a capacity to see and hear public judgment, which gives room to the comparison, which affects their perception of body image (Hasinoff, 2014). Research shows the presentation of self-image in social media effectively shapes adolescents’ self- esteem in positive and negative ways (Scharrer, 2012). For young girls, the media emphasis on the need for girls to be young, beautiful, and thin. In televisions, female characters with stunning bodies are presented and idealized, while heavier women are underrepresented (Alper et al., 2016). In many children shows, positive nature and physical attractiveness traits are associated with thinness. Obesity is often equated with desirable characteristics such as unhappiness or lacking in intelligence.
Young people are mainly affected by digital and social media in their perception of the development of body image. Adolescents are more active and tuned to discover, create, and share media content (Alper et al., 2016). As a result, most young people are preoccupied with image, friendship, and peer status (Scharrer, 2012). Many teens experiences in real life are connected to their online identity. In many cases, this creates a crisis, especially when they fail to meet their socially acceptable standards (Hasinoff, 2014). Many teenagers and children in the cause of their use of social media have developed body dissatisfaction and have internalized appearance ideals (Jung & Peterson, 2007). Thus, most young people have become self-conscious about their appearance, both offline and online and engage depending on their body images concerns.
Research Data
According to a study published in the Journal of Media Psychology, media exposure to women, men, teens, and adolescents affects their perception of body image negatively. Media has been identified as an avenue which conveys socio-cultural values concerning the ideal body size and shape. The studies show that only 5% of the idealized body images represent the society while 95% are left suffering from negative feelings of shame and desire to alter their bodies (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). Research indicates that on average, men desire to add 14.96 pounds to achieve their muscle mass for their ideal body image (Scharrer, 2012). Studies also show increased debate on the role of the media on whether it is a risk factor for negative body image for men and women and especially women. Reports indicate a drastic change in body ideals through generations with the current media portraying thin women as ideal and without imperfections (Hasinoff, 2014). Researchers concluded that 94% of images shown in magazines for women display a copy of the lean idealized body while for men; the images contain high levels of bare body exposure and posing (Jung & Peterson, 2007). Studies reveal that to achieve the set ideals is unrealistic. However, many women are unaware of the risk and danger as surveys show that over 60% of women are dieting to attain a perfect body image. Body image of males and females is; therefore, a concept greatly affected by the media and decreases individual self- esteem.
Solutions to The Relationship Between Media and Bodies and Sexuality
The media, as a powerful tool, has created problems with body image that need to be addressed. However, various solutions can be put in place to avoid low self-esteem in issues of body image. Such actions include limitation of exposure to the media. Develop confidence by preventing the comparison of self with others and continually exercising (Scharrer, 2012). It also essential to let go of the past and reduce the focus on the current media influence as well as get professional help when body image becomes a severe problem to overcome.
Conclusion
The concept of body image is well known in all parts of the world as a significant aspect in the evaluation of people’s self-esteem, mental health, and well-being. Failure to develop a positive attitude towards the body inflicts an individual with feelings of worthlessness as negative body image hinders confidence. Media affects men, women, and children by portraying patterns of unattainable body images in magazines, movies, commercials, and social media platforms. Individuals need to be alert in handling technology in its display of business operations which lure people to perfection. The idealized thin body image for women, muscularity for men and perfection for teens and children all harm the perception of body image.
References
Alper, M., Katz, V. S., & Clark, L. S. (2016). Researching children, intersectionality, and diversity in the digital age. Journal of Children and Media , 10 (1), 107-114.
Crenshaw, K. (1997). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. The legal response to violence against women , 5 , 91.
Cusumano, D. L., & Thompson, J. K. (2001). Media influence and body image in 8–11‐year‐old boys and girls: A preliminary report on the multidimensional media influence scale. International Journal of Eating Disorders , 29 (1), 37-44.
Hasinoff, A. A. (2014). Blaming sexualization for sexting. Girlhood Studies , 7 (1), 102-120.
Jung, J., & Peterson, M. (2007). Body dissatisfaction and patterns of media use among preadolescent children. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal , 36 (1), 40-54.
Scharrer, E. (2012). The man in the box: Masculinity and race in popular television. In Communicating Marginalized Masculinities (pp. 167-181). Routledge.
