Media’s effects on a person’s idealized body image
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Introduction
Media brings about many advances including the good, the bad and the ugly. Good outcomes include media campaigns which result to better living of the general populace. And bad, when money becomes the sole point of consideration; whereas the ugly aspect exposes the dire repercussions of the inner workings of different kinds of media influences on people. “Popular media have projected a thinner and thinner ideal body image for women. Men are also held to an ideal that is trim, but muscular” (Serrano & Barden 2004 p 2). This statement coming from Serrano and Barden who had made extensive researches on the prevalence of distortions in the self-perception of young people concerning their bodily structure and appearance.
This is paper assumes that the constant barage of advertisements pushing products that mould and lead to better shapes and the best facial features or television programs that do the same by endorsing the themes of their stories in the same direction, places undue pressure on people to conform to a particular form or an ideal image. It will provide illustrations of the measures that a lot of people do to fit into the mould of the day.
I. The nature of advertisements and the media in general in the development of perception of self.
Advertisers know that the generation today is comprised of a mixture a lot of ambitious, active and adventurous young and as well as the mature people who have the income to support their lifestyles. Then there are the children who do not have purchasing power, nevertheless have the influence to wield parents to make purchasing decisions for them. Advertisement it is complex because it brings with the whole idea of the consumer and his/her preferences in buying. Different tastes for different folks are in essence is being valued here and manufacturers employ the best of science to secure their place in the business; and they all intend to stay there for a long, long time. Parents must primarily own the responsibility to guard and protect their kids and where advertising is concerned must shield them if they believe that these are destructive to their own kids.
What is actually going on here is the evolution of how people appreciate beauty and the way to get it. Beauty is defined today much different than it was years before. A pretty woman or the ideal impression of the womanly figure has gone through stages, as manifested in art and the mass media. Leonardo da Vinci’s portrayed a sort of virtuous beautiful lady in the likeness of Mona Lisa. If artists like Ruben and portraits of his art on women would be on display, they will not be the kind to consider on the ramp. In fact, way back during the 40s and the 50s, beautiful means having the full and curvy figure. It cannot be denied that to a degree, the parents have a compelling effect over whether or not their offspring will become overweight or obese. The reality is that parents don’t just pass on their genetic traits; most importantly, the nurture aspect of the equation is equally powerful. Bad eating practices and inactive routines like staying long in front of television or playing video games at hours end are routines make obese children what they are. Thirty three-point-three percent (33.3%), studies show that they are more prone to become overweight as they reach young adulthood (locateadoc.com).
Television andprint media strongly influence people’s perception of themselves whenever these venues communicate verbal and nonverbally, anything regarding a person’s or other individuals’ body image. Mockery and coarse joking on a person’s appearance by members of the family and friends for instance in a tv sitcom have been associated with body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms. Consequently, significant others like parents’ and peers’ communication concerning one’s body shape or weight appear to have an effect on body image dissatisfaction.
II. Measures people do in response to media influence on idealized body image
These are just some of the glaring realities in this generation. Add to that is the way parents relate with their children in some questionable aspects. There are parents who take for granted the decision-making opportunities that their children make. They even give away gifts in the form of plastic surgery to their children. This goes to show that either they don’t care or are not concerned at all with what their children are doing in their bodies or perhaps this is their way to “win” their children for lost time and affections. Of course, there are exceptions to the category, parents who genuinely care for their children and who just don’t make use of their wealth at their whim, who use their money wisely and with real legitimate reasons.
Disordered eating is a major result of “body image dissatisfaction, social pressure for thinness, and athletic pressure for thinness” (Mallin 2007 p 4). What people do to ease to the dissatisfaction felt as the person constantly feels the basic disparity between what media portray as an ideal body and what a person sees in him/herself, ranges from very minor to oftentimes major changes. This includes the use of plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery.
From studies done by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, statistics show that:
“In 2001, 17 percent of patients having chemical peels were men, up from 4 percent in 1992. During that same nine-year period, the number of men having facelifts climbed from 7 percent to 10 percent. Males opting for liposuction rose from 13 percent to 18 percent. And men who chose to reshape their nose jumped from 28 percent to 37 percent” (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/30312.html).
On the other hand, it is noteworthy that as the fashion remains and media exposure intensifies the concentration on adolescents desiring plastic surgery has increased. The total number of nose jobs done on teenagers has gone up from 4,311 in 1994 to 42,513 in 2003 says the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) statistics. Cosmetic measures done on teenagers and children (18 and younger) in 2003 were 331,886. The chemical peels with just over 126,000, and one procedure, otoplasty (ear surgery), was more prevalent in this age group than in all of the others combined. Of course, ten years ago the number for this age group was just a fraction of what it is, but across the board numbers have risen dramatically. The 2003 total for all age groups was 8,793,943, dwarfing the 1994 total of 364,398 (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/30312.html).
Cosmetic surgery is done basically for aesthetic rather than medical reasons. People choose to go through cosmetic surgery to develop their appearance. Because it is surgery, cosmetic surgery involves risks. Moreover, the outcome is not what the client expected.
Based on information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some of the risks in plastic surgery (i.e. breast implants) at times will not end after the initial surgery. Because implants are likely not to last a lifetime, patients discover that oftentimes follow-up surgeries are frequently required. In the case of breast implants, risks include the possibility that the implants might burst and shrink, the FDA elaborated. The rest will experience the rupture after quite a few years and some will keep going for as long as ten years or more before they rupture or deflate (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Living/Breast_Implants_Graduation_040615-1.html). Other complications include the probability of infection, blood loss, blood clots, and harmful effects of anesthesia (http://www.accessexcellence.org).
However, according to studies, patients obtain a strong lift from such procedures. Older clients and patients of these surgeries gain psychologically in the procedures, aside from the physically enhanced and modified body images.
“Thus an individual whose body image is aberrant or different will find it
hard to form meaningful interpersonal associations and may become a
social outcast, suffering psychological damage inherent in this particular type of rejection” (Capuano 1994 in Stark 10-11 as quoted from a study done by Wertheim et al).
Conclusion
So for those who see that these procedures actually benefit recipients, plastic surgery is actually a boon not a bane. Their adherents see that this is the answer to people’s unhappiness. Plastic surgery is their alternative to feel satisfied and enjoy life. It is an opportunity that can be advantageous for one who suffered humiliation and inferiority. No doubt, this is a valid concern but this is not true for everyone. On the other hand, there are serious things to be considered when surgery is looked at as a possible solution for some physical disadvantages. There are dangers/risks to be considered. At times, the desired result is not worth the risks. Life and a healthy body cannot be gambled just to correct some minor imperfections in the body. So, even if it is in vogue today, and as much as we want to improve our physique to become more impressive to the eyes of the public through plastic surgery, it is still wiser to think and consider and reconsider before diving into this stream where most people today are turning to for solutions.
Works cited:
Capuano, Donald 1994. Psychological benefits of cosmetic surgery. Accessed January 28, 2009
http://www.capuanousa.com/plastic/marisa.htm
Mallin, Jill, 2007. Social pressures and body image as contributors to eating habits among
collegiate women athletes..
Serrano, Elena, and Cindy Barden, 2004. Kids, Food, and Electronic Media. Publication Number
348-008.
Other internet sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Living/Breast_Implants_Graduation_040615-1.html
http://www.accessexcellence.org
