Over the past few weeks we’ve seen in the media that Jessica Simpson has put on a little weight and gained a few more curves. The press was very critical of her body changes, calling her fat and making such a big deal out of this that other celebrities have spoken out in her defense. At the same time the media has reported that Lindsay Lohan has recently lost weight and even accused her of being on drugs because of the weight loss.
Is the press ever happy? There doesn’t seem to be a “perfect” size anymore. Media has always objectifies women and focused on our looks but in the last decade I feel this has intensified and is also targeting younger girls more than ever before. Physicians today are seeing a large number of young girls with eating disorders, such as, anorexia and bulimia.
According to a study that was sited on AAP News, the official magazine of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 548 girls from fifth grade to twelve grades were surveyed to see how the media has influenced them on weight control concerns, behaviors and their body image perceptions. Fifty- nine percent of these girls said they were dissatisfied with their body shape, and sixty-six percent of them wanted to loss weight. Of these girls sixty-six percent of them said that reading fashion magazines and that the appearance of the models in the magazines does influences their idea of a perfect female body. Forty-seven percent of the girls wanted to loss weight because of viewing the magazine photos. Our media is sending a dangerously distorted image of women’s bodies today and the young girls of our world are being dramatically affected.
In the past couple of years we have seen some media promoting a more positive and healthy body image. For instance, Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign uses real women of all shapes and sizes to promote their products. Also, the Tyra Banks Show regularly discusses topics on body image and the media. Tyra herself is always an advocate for promoting healthier more realistic body image and points out frequently that the celebrities and models seen in photos aren’t shown how they honestly look but are airbrushed, have special effects lighting and wear heavy stage make up.
We need to be better role models for young girls and educated them on healthy, positive body images, as well as, become better consumers that demand the media be more socially conscience and responsible about the body images that they put all over the media.
Is the press ever happy? There doesn’t seem to be a “perfect” size anymore. Media has always objectifies women and focused on our looks but in the last decade I feel this has intensified and is also targeting younger girls more than ever before. Physicians today are seeing a large number of young girls with eating disorders, such as, anorexia and bulimia.
According to a study that was sited on AAP News, the official magazine of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 548 girls from fifth grade to twelve grades were surveyed to see how the media has influenced them on weight control concerns, behaviors and their body image perceptions. Fifty- nine percent of these girls said they were dissatisfied with their body shape, and sixty-six percent of them wanted to loss weight. Of these girls sixty-six percent of them said that reading fashion magazines and that the appearance of the models in the magazines does influences their idea of a perfect female body. Forty-seven percent of the girls wanted to loss weight because of viewing the magazine photos. Our media is sending a dangerously distorted image of women’s bodies today and the young girls of our world are being dramatically affected.
In the past couple of years we have seen some media promoting a more positive and healthy body image. For instance, Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign uses real women of all shapes and sizes to promote their products. Also, the Tyra Banks Show regularly discusses topics on body image and the media. Tyra herself is always an advocate for promoting healthier more realistic body image and points out frequently that the celebrities and models seen in photos aren’t shown how they honestly look but are airbrushed, have special effects lighting and wear heavy stage make up.
We need to be better role models for young girls and educated them on healthy, positive body images, as well as, become better consumers that demand the media be more socially conscience and responsible about the body images that they put all over the media.
Today's media frenzy about weight is ridiculous. For one thing, its none of our business whether Jessica Simpson is gaining weight or not. And for another, who cares? Why is it so important for us to nitpick everything a celebrity wears or eats? Jessica Simpson might look different, but that doesn't mean that her music or acting abilities have changed, and, after all, isn't that what she's famous for?
ReplyDeleteYes, Lindsay Lohan looks thinner recently. But I believe that the media played a large part in her recent weight loss. She is constantly being watched, and everyone is always waiting for her to slip up, so is it really surprising that she gets self-conscious about her body?
Maybe the medias problem is that neither of these women looks like the perfect Barbie doll.
Today's media has found no happy medium about what weight should be. Jessica Simpson is a very healthy weight, and most "real women", women who are not depicted in the media are much larger than Jessica Simpson is. Then, there is the issue of being too thin! The stars of the new remake of an old show 90210 (http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/09/17/90210-stars-too-thin/ are too thin for TV. If every single person in the media, and in real life is so violently criticized, how is anyone suppose to feel good about their own body image?
ReplyDeleteI loved the study cited on APP news! Great site!
I completely agree with this! I am a huge advocate for eating disorders. I have friends who have and have had both anorexia and bulimia. The messages they get from the media impact and skew their thinking about their bodies. When I saw this Jessica Simpson photo and all the coverage it go, I was so angry about it. Who really cares what she looks like? She is still beautiful regardless of what anyone thinks. Afterall, her sister, Ashlee Simpson, did suffer from an eathing disorder and so she has seen that in her family. I think the media is absolutely rediculous in their criticism of everyone and they really need to think about how much of an impact they are having on the rest of the world out there watching.
ReplyDeleteI was getting ready for work and the TV was turned down when Jessica Simpson popped up on the screen. I turned to my mom and said “damn she looks really good.” Soon to find out on the way to work on the radio people were saying how she has gained all this weight! Here all along I thought that she was looking good and everyone saying she is getting fat. I know that a lot of people think that she looks just as great now as she did a few pounds lighter. It is the fact that the media has to give out what looks good and what does not look good. So I say if she is happy and healthy that is all that should matter.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Jessica Simpson will always be gorgeous no matter how much weight she puts on. You need to learn how to be happy with yourself and not listen to other people. So what if she gained weight , but when she was real skinny before there were comments about her. There is never a perfect size in todays society for women.
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