One of the questions we often hear asked is ‘Who is to blame for negative body image?’ Eating disorders of all kinds are more of a public health issue today than ever before. According to a study undertaken by Brown University in Rhode Island in the US, 74.4% of average weight women stated that they thought about their physical appearance “all of the time” or “frequently”. And these numbers are on the rise.
The most common answer given to this question is the media. Every time a discussion arise surrounding eating disorders or body image, the blame is instantly shifted to the ‘media’. However, is this really the case? On this blog I hope to explore and investigate this claim and share my findings.
Blogger and media commentator Paula Orbea believes that people today are learning more from the media than from anything else. The diversity of platforms available means it is inescapable.
“The media is encouraging women to feel as though they are never enough, as they are,” she explains (Orbea, P 2012). In her opinion, young girls are being taught what to be and boys are being taught what to look for. These ideas are being constructed through the way women are presented in magazines, advertisements and movies – as objectified beings; often half naked and in sexualised positions.
Are these kinds of images really that bad for women and young girls?
According to adolescent health doctors Jennifer Derrene and Eugene Beresin in their article Body Image, Media and Eating Disorders these messages ARE having an effect on the health and wellbeing of both young girls and boys. Throughout history, the predominant culture and lifestyle trends have always determined the popular….. However, today the media (including television, internet, movies and print is far more powerful than ever before – meaning these messages are being spread more rapidly and to a wider audience. (Derrene, J L & Beresin, E V 2006, p 3)
Typical Women’s magazines at local supermarket
REFERENCES:
Derenne, J L & Beresin, E V 2006, Body Image, Media and Eating Disorders, online article, Boston, MA, accessed 27/10/12,
http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=50181
Body Image, (no author), online article, Brown University, Boston, MA, accessed 27/10/12 http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/nutrition_&_eating_concerns/body_image.php#77
What's Happening to Our Girls? 