Beauty Images Shown Through The Media Are Often Unrealistic

Beauty Images Shown Through The Media Often Are Unrealistic Neverthel

Beauty images shown through the media often are unrealistic. Nevertheless, it is difficult for children and adolescents, both male and female, to stop comparing themselves to the images they may see on television, in the movies, and in magazines. Generally, these comparisons can result in bad feelings about body image and one’s self-concept. As a consequence, children and adolescents might strive to attain the perfect body image and consider these goals as realistic. The result can be the development of an eating disorder.

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The pervasive portrayal of idealized beauty standards in media advertisements significantly influences perceptions of body image among children and adolescents. These advertisements often showcase unattainable physical ideals, emphasizing slenderness, muscularity, or specific body features, which can foster distorted self-perceptions and negative emotions concerning one's appearance. A typical example is an online social media ad promoting weight loss products featuring models with exaggerated or edited physiques that do not reflect realistic body types. Such advertisements often evoke feelings of inadequacy or shame in viewers, particularly impressionable youth, who internalize these unrealistic standards as benchmarks they should meet.

In reflecting on my reactions, I felt a mixture of frustration and concern upon viewing the advertisement. The portrayal's exaggerated depiction of beauty reinforced harmful stereotypes, making me think about how media shapes societal norms and individual body ideals. This ad made me feel empathetic towards young viewers who might struggle with self-esteem, especially if they lack adequate guidance or critical thinking skills to interpret such images critically. These advertisements can generate negative self-comparisons, leading to dissatisfaction and, ultimately, body image disturbances.

For children and adolescents, the influence of such media content can be profound and long-lasting. Exposure to idealized images may lead them to develop false beliefs about what constitutes healthy or desirable bodies. This might result in efforts to mimic the portrayed ideals through extreme dieting, over-exercising, or disordered eating behaviors. Specifically, young girls are often portrayed in advertisements as slim and perfectly contoured, which can lead to body dissatisfaction and the internalization of thinness as an essential component of attractiveness (Hargreaves & Tiggemann, 2004). Similarly, boys may internalize muscular ideals, which can cause them to pursue excessive exercise or steroid use.

Research indicates that media exposure reinforces gender-specific body image concerns. For example, Hargreaves and Tiggemann (2004) found that girls are more likely to compare themselves to slim ideal images, leading to greater body dissatisfaction, whereas boys may compare themselves to muscular images, fostering a desire for increased muscle mass. These comparisons can result in psychological distress, low self-esteem, and risky behaviors aimed at altering body shape—behaviors associated with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia (Francisco et al., 2013).

Moreover, repeated exposure to unrealistic images can distort adolescents' perceptions of what is achievable or healthy. A child who constantly sees images of impeccably edited or airbrushed models may come to believe that such appearances are the norm, setting unrealistic goals for themselves. This internal conflict between real and ideal body images can decrease self-worth and promote negative self-talk. The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 emphasizes that perceptions of body image are central to eating disorders (DSM-5, 2013). If a young person internalizes these idealized images, they may develop body dissatisfaction that predisposes them to restrictive eating, binge-purge cycles, or other disordered behaviors.

Preventative strategies rooted in media literacy can help mitigate these effects. Educating children and adolescents about the artificiality of media images, the role of editing and filters, and promoting diverse representations of beauty may foster healthier perceptions of body image. Interventions like School-Based Prevention Programs have proven effective in reducing the impact of media on body dissatisfaction (Raich et al., 2010). Similarly, involving parents in promoting positive body image and establishing open communication can buffer the negative influence of media messages (Francisco et al., 2013). Clinicians should also be attentive to early signs of body image disturbance and provide support that promotes a balanced and realistic understanding of beauty.

In conclusion, media advertisements showcasing unrealistic beauty standards significantly impact the self-esteem and body image of children and adolescents, often contributing to disordered eating and psychological distress. It is essential for caregivers, educators, and mental health professionals to implement strategies that promote media literacy, resilience, and body positivity to counterbalance these influences and foster healthy development.

References

  • Francisco, R., Narciso, I., & Alarcoa, M. (2013). Parental influences on elite aesthetic athletes’ body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 22(8), 1082–1091.
  • Geller, J., & Dunn, E. C. (2011). Integrating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of eating disorders: Tailoring interventions to patient readiness to change. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18(1), 5–15.
  • Hargreaves, D. & Tiggemann, M. (2004). Idealized media images and adolescent body image: “Comparing” boys and girls. Body Image, 1(4), 351–361.
  • Lacoste, S. M. (2017). Looking for the origins of anorexia nervosa in adolescence—a new treatment approach. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 36, 76–80.
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  • DSM-5. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
  • Raich, R. M., Portell, M., & Pelaez-Fernandez, M. A. (2010). Evaluation of a school-based programme of universal eating disorders prevention: Is it more effective in girls at risk? European Eating Disorders Review, 18(1), 49–57.
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