Photoshop
Photoshopped pictures can greatly hurt young girls. Young girls may not realize that the pictures they see on tv, in movies, magazines, billboards, and pictures may be altered. They see the pictures of celebrities that everyone loves, and thinks that that is how they actually look. This hurts girls because they realize that they do not look as good as a model who is photoshopped, and begin to hate their bodies.
This picture of Megan Fox has been altered to make her skin darker, and it has gotten rid of her pimples. Personally, I feel that it is okay to rid pictures of skin blemishes, but it does cause young girls to think that not everyone gets pimples, and that there may be something wrong with them. If blemishes were not hidden so greatly in the media, young girls may feel a lot better about themselves.
This picture has been changed a lot to make the model's legs skinnier, even though they were already perfect, and her back was made to be straighter. Her cheek bone structure was changed, and so was her skin tone.
Alteration of pictures is not illegal, and shouldn't be taken away from the media. It is their own content, and they can do with it as they please. But changing the images of women changes the public's opinion of how women should look, and this can hurt young girls.
This picture has been altered to make her look skinnier than she already was. The changes also fixed the wrinkles in her outfit to make it appear to fit her better, which I feel is acceptable. But she was already skinny enough, she did not need to be made to appear even smaller.
This picture has been changed a lot to make the model's legs skinnier, even though they were already perfect, and her back was made to be straighter. Her cheek bone structure was changed, and so was her skin tone.
Alteration of pictures is not illegal, and shouldn't be taken away from the media. It is their own content, and they can do with it as they please. But changing the images of women changes the public's opinion of how women should look, and this can hurt young girls.
The Dove® Campaign for Real Beauty
"The Dove® brand is rooted in listening to women. Based on the findings of a major global study, The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report, Dove®
launched the Campaign for Real Beauty in 2004. The campaign started a
global conversation about the need for a wider definition of beauty
after the study proved the hypothesis that the definition of beauty had
become limiting and unattainable. Among the study’s findings was the
statistic that only 2% of women around the world would describe
themselves as beautiful. Since 2004, Dove® has employed
various communications vehicles to challenge beauty stereotypes and
invite women to join a discussion about beauty. In 2010, Dove® evolved the campaign and launched an unprecedented effort to make beauty a source of confidence, not anxiety, with the Dove® Movement for Self-Esteem."
It is hard to believe that out of billions of women, only 2% of them find themselves beautiful. Dove® has been trying to fix this since 2004. It is important for women to see themselves as beautiful, and for there to be a wider definition of beautiful. The point of this blog is not to say that models aren't beautiful, and that we have the definition of beauty wrong. The point is to show that media has made us think that the type of beauty they portray is the only type of beauty, and if we don't look like a model then we aren't pretty.
For the full article on the Campaign for Real Beauty click here. This article explains the different strategies Dove® has used over the years, and what they are trying to accomplish.
The campaign has created many posters and images such as this, featuring many different types of women who are happy with their bodies. Not only does the campaign show that many body types are okay, but it also teaches that if one is unhappy with their body they can take healthy steps to change it, such as eating right, and working out.
It is hard to believe that out of billions of women, only 2% of them find themselves beautiful. Dove® has been trying to fix this since 2004. It is important for women to see themselves as beautiful, and for there to be a wider definition of beautiful. The point of this blog is not to say that models aren't beautiful, and that we have the definition of beauty wrong. The point is to show that media has made us think that the type of beauty they portray is the only type of beauty, and if we don't look like a model then we aren't pretty.
For the full article on the Campaign for Real Beauty click here. This article explains the different strategies Dove® has used over the years, and what they are trying to accomplish.
Negative lifestyles
The media has caused many young girls to grow up into negative lifestyles. Young girls wish to have babies at the incredibly young age of 14. Some girls feel that they need the sexual attention of guys and become strippers, sluts, and whores.
This video features a 15 year old girl who started having sex at a really young age because she wants a baby now. This is unacceptable, and this can not really be blamed on the parenting of the mother. The mother of this girl obviously is against her behavior, and has been trying to not raise her this way.
TV shows like Maury often feature out of control children, and adults, and these people may not be out of control due to the media, but the tv show itself is a medium that is pushing messages such as this. Broadcasting that a 15 year old girl is having sex multiple times, with multiple guys, in order to try and fix her is not effective. The girl should be brought to private counseling. It may be the intention of the show Maury to fix the problems of the people within the show, and show that their behaviors are bad. But if a young child watches this show often, they will see a reoccurring pattern, that all the people on this show behave in such a negative way. They may believe that it is okay to do whatever they need to in order to get what they want.
TV shows like Maury often feature out of control children, and adults, and these people may not be out of control due to the media, but the tv show itself is a medium that is pushing messages such as this. Broadcasting that a 15 year old girl is having sex multiple times, with multiple guys, in order to try and fix her is not effective. The girl should be brought to private counseling. It may be the intention of the show Maury to fix the problems of the people within the show, and show that their behaviors are bad. But if a young child watches this show often, they will see a reoccurring pattern, that all the people on this show behave in such a negative way. They may believe that it is okay to do whatever they need to in order to get what they want.
I am not blaming Victoria Secret for this, but they do have a part in it. All of the commercials, ads, billboards, tv shows, and movies that portray women as promiscuous beings influence young girls, and make them think that this behavior is okay. Girls get in trouble at school for extremely low necklines, showing their stomachs, and short skirts/shorts. Young preteens walk around town hardly dressed, and they feel sexy for it. It is good that they have the confidence, and self esteem to like their bodies enough to show them off, but they are getting the wrong attention.
This is opposite of the point I made in previous posts, that media causes negative self esteem and confidence. But too much confidence and self esteem can cause girls to become promiscuous, and begin to have sex at younger ages. This helps with the spread of disease, and leads to even younger parents. Girls feel like they need sexual attention from men at younger ages because that is what they have learned from the media. This thinking turns women into objects, and ruins girls outlook on healthy relationships.
Statistics
According to Google Statistics there are 311.5919 million people in the United States, alone.
According to these charts, just over 30 million of those people are females between 5 and 19. Depending on the person, and their family, these females spend around 8 hours of their day consuming mass media. This can come in the form of television, books, magazines, internet, phone advertisements, billboards, posters, pictures on consumer items, and much more. Not all mass media can be harmful, but even a small percent of negativity in that 8 hours of media consumption can damage a person.
Teen Health and the Media researched and found these facts:
In a survey of girls 9-10 years old, 40% have tried to lose weight.
In a study on fifth graders, 10 year old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show "Friends".
One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
More importantly, The National Institute of Mental Health says eating disorders affect more than 5 million Americans each year. Close to one thousand girls a year die due to anorexia. And nearly 10% of college females suffer from an eating disorder. Five to ten million adolescent girls and women struggle with eating disorders. According to The Center For Mental Health Services 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25. The site goes on to say that "8,000,000 or more people in the United States have an eating disorder. 90% are women. Eating disorders usually start in the teens but may begin as early as age 8."
It is important to note that not only women are affected, but they are the majority. And the view of women that men are presented with through the media unintentionally hurts women. Men are presented with picture perfect barbie dolls who have had thousands of dollars spent on making them look amazing, and hours on end every day used up just to make them appear as they do. This causes men, and even women, to think that this is the norm. Men have higher standards for women, and hold their prospective girlfriends up to these standards. Normal girls can hardly contest with models, and feel as if they must go to extremes to appear perfect, and skinny. They starve themselves, and spend hundreds of dollars a month on makeup.
As a girl I know that all of this is true. I am 5'6" and weigh only 110 lbs. For my height I am underweight. Most of my friends weigh more than me, even the ones who are shorter than me. But I find it hard to look at myself without thinking I'm fat. I may be skinnier than I should be, but there are people who are even skinnier on movies and the television. I know I can be skinnier, and have problems eating. This mindset also hurts other people. When I call myself fat, if someone who is bigger than me overhears, they take it as if I am fat, they must be obese, even if they too are also underweight. The image that we have chosen to portray as beautiful is causing a lot of harm to our population.
Another side effect caused by images portrayed in the media of girls is over eating. Girls see these images and may realize that they do not look like that, and may never look like that, and they over eat. This causes them to gain weight, which makes them even more sad as they realize that they are farther away from "perfect." This sadness causes more eating, which leads to obesity.
In order to bring up self esteem and help stop negative outlooks on self-image we need to change what we think of as beautiful. As the public, we choose what goes far in the media, and if we continue consuming content that portrays such images then we will never break this mold.
According to these charts, just over 30 million of those people are females between 5 and 19. Depending on the person, and their family, these females spend around 8 hours of their day consuming mass media. This can come in the form of television, books, magazines, internet, phone advertisements, billboards, posters, pictures on consumer items, and much more. Not all mass media can be harmful, but even a small percent of negativity in that 8 hours of media consumption can damage a person.
Teen Health and the Media researched and found these facts:
In a survey of girls 9-10 years old, 40% have tried to lose weight.
In a study on fifth graders, 10 year old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show "Friends".
One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
More importantly, The National Institute of Mental Health says eating disorders affect more than 5 million Americans each year. Close to one thousand girls a year die due to anorexia. And nearly 10% of college females suffer from an eating disorder. Five to ten million adolescent girls and women struggle with eating disorders. According to The Center For Mental Health Services 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25. The site goes on to say that "8,000,000 or more people in the United States have an eating disorder. 90% are women. Eating disorders usually start in the teens but may begin as early as age 8."
It is important to note that not only women are affected, but they are the majority. And the view of women that men are presented with through the media unintentionally hurts women. Men are presented with picture perfect barbie dolls who have had thousands of dollars spent on making them look amazing, and hours on end every day used up just to make them appear as they do. This causes men, and even women, to think that this is the norm. Men have higher standards for women, and hold their prospective girlfriends up to these standards. Normal girls can hardly contest with models, and feel as if they must go to extremes to appear perfect, and skinny. They starve themselves, and spend hundreds of dollars a month on makeup.
As a girl I know that all of this is true. I am 5'6" and weigh only 110 lbs. For my height I am underweight. Most of my friends weigh more than me, even the ones who are shorter than me. But I find it hard to look at myself without thinking I'm fat. I may be skinnier than I should be, but there are people who are even skinnier on movies and the television. I know I can be skinnier, and have problems eating. This mindset also hurts other people. When I call myself fat, if someone who is bigger than me overhears, they take it as if I am fat, they must be obese, even if they too are also underweight. The image that we have chosen to portray as beautiful is causing a lot of harm to our population.
Another side effect caused by images portrayed in the media of girls is over eating. Girls see these images and may realize that they do not look like that, and may never look like that, and they over eat. This causes them to gain weight, which makes them even more sad as they realize that they are farther away from "perfect." This sadness causes more eating, which leads to obesity.
In order to bring up self esteem and help stop negative outlooks on self-image we need to change what we think of as beautiful. As the public, we choose what goes far in the media, and if we continue consuming content that portrays such images then we will never break this mold.
Negative Self Image
The media causes girls to have negative self images. Many shows portray women as skinny, sexy, tall, and perfect. They do not have blemishes, and they tend seem as if they are carefully sculpted. Many of them also are covered in copious amounts of makeup. They show women who are very different from the average girl. They see images such as these:
They wonder why they are not that skinny or tall. They worry that their hair is not that perfect, or that their skin is not pure enough. Girls begin to think that they do not dress correctly. They think they look stupid, fat, imperfect, or even wrong.
A girl may look like one of these girls:
All of these girls are beautiful. But they all have features that keep them from being what we refer to as the ideal look for a girl. One girl has braces, the another has acne, and another is not super skinny. None of these girls are wearing make up, or dressed promiscuously. They look beautiful, but many girls who look just like this have body image issues, which lead to eating disorders. The get anorexia, and refuse to eat food, which can cause serious physical harm. Girls also get bulimia, which is where they eat food, but then throw it up so it is not in their bodies anymore. Girls will also go on binge diets, or alter their eating patterns so they eat less food. They will work out excessively, trying to lose weight so they can be as skinny as models. Some girls even self mutilate because they dislike their body image. Cutting has become huge, and can even result in the loss of life.
They wonder why they are not that skinny or tall. They worry that their hair is not that perfect, or that their skin is not pure enough. Girls begin to think that they do not dress correctly. They think they look stupid, fat, imperfect, or even wrong.
A girl may look like one of these girls:
All of these girls are beautiful. But they all have features that keep them from being what we refer to as the ideal look for a girl. One girl has braces, the another has acne, and another is not super skinny. None of these girls are wearing make up, or dressed promiscuously. They look beautiful, but many girls who look just like this have body image issues, which lead to eating disorders. The get anorexia, and refuse to eat food, which can cause serious physical harm. Girls also get bulimia, which is where they eat food, but then throw it up so it is not in their bodies anymore. Girls will also go on binge diets, or alter their eating patterns so they eat less food. They will work out excessively, trying to lose weight so they can be as skinny as models. Some girls even self mutilate because they dislike their body image. Cutting has become huge, and can even result in the loss of life.
Shows like America's Next Top Model, Make Me a Supermodel, Sex and the City, and many more cause girls to think that that is how they should look. Movies, portraits, and advertisements that portray women as more than average leave negative ideas in young girls heads. Young girls are not very media literate, and it is hard for them to tell that many of these people are not healthy, or even may be photoshopped. They see that they look different, and since they are famous they look better, not different. It is important for us to teach girls the difference between what is real in the media, and that while models may be appealing, that does not mean that they are not.
There are many sites dedicated to help stop these side effects of the media on girls:
- National Eating Disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Association for Self Esteem
- More Self Esteem
- Teen Health
- The Dove Campaign
The Media has a Negative Impact on Young Girls
Over the years new communication media has affected girls in many different ways.
- Cyber bullying
- Negative self images
- Negative lifestyle choices
- Suicide
- Negative stereotypes
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