Relation Between Women In Advertising And Eating Disorders

Relation between Women in Advertising and Eating Disorders in Young Girls

Young girls are becoming aware of body weight and figure as early as eight years old. This turn has caused eating disorders to rise since the 1970s; young girls are feeling the pressures about having to create the perfect body. Women become increasingly aware of their bodies as they get older, especially with the constant awareness of media. Women are becoming objectified at younger and younger ages, and are becoming more and more aware of that fact as time goes on.

Researchers have found that children's main information on sexuality and sexual health is through media; this is especially alarming since most of the media uses women as sexual objects. In a culture that cuts off women from many of their own possibilities before they barely have had a chance to sense them, that pain belongs to all women. Outlets for coping may vary widely, and may be more or less addictive, more or less self-destructive. But at some level, all women know what it is to lack access to their own power, to live with a piece of themselves unclaimed.

Studies show that 90% of eating disorders originate from young girls who experience the pressure to fit society's ideal of “beauty.” Advertising plays a significant role in shaping perceptions about beauty and body image, relentlessly promoting slender and often unrealistic standards. The influence of media advertisements on young girls' concepts of attractiveness can lead to harmful practices such as dieting, unhealthy weight control, and ultimately eating disorders.

Body

Eating disorders are complex psychological disorders characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia (Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary). These disorders often develop from distress about body shape or weight, spiraling into unhealthy routines like extreme dieting or binge eating that harm normal body function. The media’s portrayal of thinness as the epitome of beauty significantly contributes to these doings, shaping young women's perceptions and expectations of themselves.

The history and development of eating disorders are deeply intertwined with societal pressures for women to conform to an idealized standard of beauty heavily reinforced by advertising and media. For instance, advertising campaigns frequently depict thin, toned models as the ideal body type, which influences young girls to perceive their own bodies as inadequate. A notable campaign by Playtex stated, “eating disorders create a very difficult environment health-wise,” highlighting the physiological impact of such societal pressures.

Research demonstrates a direct correlation between media exposure and body dissatisfaction among young women. One study revealed that 47% of girls were influenced by magazine pictures to want to lose weight, even though only 29% were actually overweight (Jayson, 2007). This disparity indicates that media influences perceptions of attractiveness far beyond actual health or weight status. The relentless promotion of slenderness as the beauty ideal perpetuates a cycle of dissatisfaction and dieting that can trigger eating disorders.

Supports from Research Guide 1

• Advertising has played a major role in pressuring young women to fit the ideal beauty standards, often causing mental health issues.
• Research shows that advertising influences 47% of girls to desire weight loss based on magazine images, with restrictive dieting being a trigger for eating disorders.

The industry’s portrayal of women has historically objectified and sexualized them, creating a climate where women's value is linked to their physical appearance. This objectification fosters the internalization of unrealistic beauty standards among young girls, contributing to dissatisfaction and harmful dieting behaviors. As noted by the literature, “advertisement helps to create a climate in which certain attitudes and values flourish, such as the attitude that women are valuable only as objects of men's desire” (Kilbourne, 1999).

Supports from Research Guide 2

• Advertising perpetuates attitudes that value women primarily for their appearance, fostering body dissatisfaction among young girls.
• There’s evidence of a link between media exposure and young people’s attitudes toward body image, correlating with the rise in eating disorders.

Historical evidence suggests that the media's role in promoting thinness perpetuates a harmful beauty myth. A 2015 article argued that the media industry is responsible for the spread of images that foster eating disorders (Anonymous, 2015). This ongoing influence creates a dangerous environment where social comparison becomes pervasive, and deviation from beauty standards can lead to psychological distress.

Supports from Research Guide 3

• Recent investigations link media coverage to the spread of eating disorders, emphasizing the impact of societal norms on vulnerable groups.
• The media's promotion of idealized images contributes to the internalization of unrealistic standards, fueling the cycle of disordered eating behaviors.

Overall, the media has historically played and continues to play a central role in shaping societal standards of beauty, which significantly impacts young girls’ self-esteem and health. The constant exposure to images of slender, glamorous women cultivates an environment where deviation from these standards results in feelings of inadequacy, leading many to unhealthy dieting practices or more severe eating disorders. As societal awareness increases, it becomes crucial to implement media literacy programs and promote diverse representations of beauty to counteract these harmful effects.

Conclusion

Eating disorders among young girls have been strongly influenced by media and advertising that promote unattainable beauty standards. These images and messages often overlook the negative health effects and focus solely on appearance, thus perpetuating a damaging cycle of dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. If unaddressed, the escalating prevalence of eating disorders could lead to a society hampered by high dependency ratios and compromised health. Raising awareness and advocating for diverse, realistic representations of women in media are essential steps toward mitigating this public health issue. Why would the media be held responsible for perpetuating harmful beauty standards, and what can be done to foster a healthier cultural environment?

References

• Anonymous. (2015). "The media industry and the spread of eating disorders." Journal of Media Studies, 22(3), 45-59.
• Jayson, S. (2007). "Media influence on young girls’ body image." U.S. Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com
• Kilbourne, J. (1999). "Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt." Rereading America. Thomson Wadsworth.
• Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. (n.d.). "Eating disorder." Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com
• Verma, A., & Avgoulas, M.-I. (2015). "Eating Disorders: Perceptions of Young Women and Social Media Portrayal." International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society, 5(4), 97–105.
• Brooks, S. J., Rask-Andersen, M., Benedict, C., & Schiòth, H. B. (2012). "A debate on current eating disorder diagnoses in light of neurobiological findings." BMCPsychiatry, 12(1).
• Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. (2016). "Eating disorders and the media." University of Manchester.
• “eatingdisorders,”. (2017). Oxford English Dictionary Online. Oxford University Press.
• Other scholarly articles from reputable psychological, social, and health databases supporting the relationship between media influence and body image dissatisfaction.