Do the Images Displayed by Media Have a

Negative Effect on Young Women?

Think about this…

Have you ever seen images like these?

How did you feel after seeing the image?

How did you feel after seeing that image?

Did you feel insecure or dissatisfied with your own

body?

How did you feel after seeing that image?

Did you feel insecure or dissatisfied with your own

body?

It is likely that you have felt those dissatisfied feelings,

but you are not alone.

Many images displayed by the media have negative effects

on most people, especially young women. me

You might be wondering, “Why do

these negative effects matter?”

Currently, there are 10 million women in the U.S. suffering form an

eating disorder.

“Eating Disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating

behavior…. A disturbance in perception of body shape and weight is an essential

feature of both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.”

Eating Disorders

Many women suffering from eating disorders view themselves like the women in these

pictures.

There is strong evidence that the media’s negative influence plays a role

in the development of eating disorders.

How does the media influence young

women?

#1: The media displays unhealthy and unrealistic

images.

UNHEALTHY:

UNHEALTHY: UNREALISTIC:

A survey of young women found they believed that “ideal teenage girl is described as 5’7”, 100 pounds, and size 5 with long blond hair and blue

eyes”

A survey of young women found they believed that “ideal teenage girl is described as 5’7”, 100 pounds,

and size 5 with long blond hair and blue eyes”

Unfortunately, this standard is unattainable for the majority of young

women.

How does the media influence young

women?

#2: The media uses unhealthy and unrealistic

images to show “flaws” and “ideal body images” in order to sell products or

ideals.

“Flaws”

“thin body ideal may be just as effectively communicated by the

portrayal of fatness as an undesirable trait”

“Flaws”

Some companies are fighting for a change in advertising techniques

that utilize flaws.

“Ideal Body Images”

These “attractive”

young are shown to make products

appealing.

“Ideal Body Images”

This ad states by depiction that “attractive” women are thin.

How does the media influence young

women?

#3: The Media is everywhere.

New technology allows the media to be everywhere.

The increased presence of media makes it hard to

escape the media’s negative messages.

Increase in Smartphone Sales:

Being overwhelmed by negative messages has been proven to increase

the likelihood of developing body dissatisfaction and

possibly an eating disorder.

When researchers showed college aged women only 10 minutes of

footage displaying thinness as an ideal trait, the women expressed

“higher rates of depression, anger, weight dissatisfaction, and overall

appearance dissatisfaction.”

With the media’s increased presence, you may think that this problem will never end…

With the media’s increased presence, you may think that this problem will never end…

With your help it can!

One in 10American women struggle with some form of

body dissatisfaction.

One in 10American women struggle with some form of

body dissatisfaction.

This means that you likely know a

woman who is hurting.

Help them by spreading awareness about the

media’s negative messages and lies.

Help them by spreading awareness about the

media’s negative messages and lies.

Encourage them and support healthy life

choices.

No one should ever say any of the following

statements:

No one should ever say any of the following

statements:

“Magazine articles are an important source of information

about fashion and being attractive.”

“I’ve felt pressure form TV and magazines to

lose weight.”

“Magazine articles are an important source of information

about fashion and being attractive.”

No one should ever say any of the following

statements:

“I’ve felt pressure form TV and magazines to

lose weight.”

“I would like my body to look like the people who

are on TV.”

Lives are precious and life is too short

Lives are precious and life is too short

for anyone to battle feelings of body dissatisfaction

Lives are precious and life is too short

for anyone to battle feelings of body dissatisfaction

or an eating disorder because he or she does not meet the

media’s standards.

Shouldn’t everyone be able to watch T.V., read a magazine, or check

Facebook and not feel dissatisfied with his or her

body afterwards?

ReferencesSlide7: Beresin, E. V., & Derenne, J. L. (2006). Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry, 30, 257-261. Retrieved from http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=50181 Slide 9: Going to extremes: Eating disorders. (n.d.) CNN Health. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/health/infographic.eating.disorders/index.htmSlide 10: DSM IV. (2005). Collins Dictionary of Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/collinsmed/dsm_iv Slides 12,13,16-18: Heinberg, L.J., & Thompson, J.K. (1999). The media’s influence on body image disturbance and eating disorders: We’ve reviled them, now can we rehabilitate them? Journal of Social Issues, 55(2), 339-353. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/0022-4537.00119/abstract Slide 19: Harrison, K. (2000). The body electric: Thin-ideal media and eating disorders in adolescents. Journal of Communication, 119-143. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02856.x/pdfSlides 24,27: Heinberg, L.J., & Thompson, J.K. (1999). The media’s influence on body image disturbance and eating disorders: We’ve reviled them, now can we rehabilitate them? Journal of Social Issues, 55(2), 339-353. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/0022-4537.00119/abstract

Slides 30,31: Going to extremes: Eating disorders. (n.d.) CNN Health. Retrieved from

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/health/infographic.eating.disorders/index.htm

Slides 32,33: Beresin, E. V., & Derenne, J. L. (2006). Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry, 30, 257-261. Retrieved from http://

ap.psychiatryonline.org/ article.aspx?articleid=50181 Slides 35, 36: Calogero, R.M., Davis W.N., & Thompson, J.K. (2005). The role of self-

objectification in the experience of women with eating disorders. Sex Roles, 52, 43-50. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11199-005-1192-9#page-1

Created by McKenna Bireley 4/25/13