The media in today’s world is one of the main factors why people are being influenced to concentrate more on outer beauty rather than inner. It sad how the media is getting into these young women’s minds. As an effect to this problem the epidemic of anorexia and bulimia is growing more rapidly more than ever before. Being skinny is now the fashion. Anorexia is a condition that is usually brought on by emotional disorders that lead a person to worry excessively about the appearance of his or her body (“Bulimia”). As a result, this causes a person to starve themselves which is known as anorexia or it makes them binge right after eating a meal which is known as bulimia nervosa. The media should recognize more normal people, rather than unhealthy, overly skinny models.
Fashion is supposed to be about dressing up and having fun with it. I never thought that fashion could also cause such a disaster. The media is presenting unrealistic images to girls who are feeling vulnerable (Clonts). These advertisements come to people from all angles such as television, magazines, and billboards. There seems to be an endless flood of ads telling the public what to think, what to eat, and how to look.
These factors have all promoted a distorted vision of what a beautiful person is defined as. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just loose those last twenty pounds, they have it all-the perfect marriage, great sex, and a rewarding career (“Media”). The number of cases of anorexia and bulimia has doubled since 1970, and experts now estimate that 0.5 to 1 percent of all white females may be anorexic (“Bulimia”).Research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air brushed bodies is linked to depression, loss of self esteem and development of unhealthy eating habits in women as well as girls.
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute warn that weight control measures are being taken by girls as young as nine (“Beauty”). The most common age at which the disorder first appears is fourteen to eighteen years (“Bulimia”). Teen Magazine reported that 35 percent of girls six to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50-70 percent of normal weight girls think they are overweight (Beauty). Time and time again it has been proven that, for the long-term, regimented diet plans do not work, yet our society continues to buy into the idea that they do (“Media”).
It is unfortunate that so many young women and men are starving their bodies just to fit what the American culture has considered to be perfect. People have forgotten that what’s on the inside counts more than the outside. Our society needs to learn love and accept themselves the way that they are. We should all embrace ourselves and love our bodies. Fashion should be taken into such a negative point. Being skinny might be in fashion, but another thing that is more important in fashion is individuality. Fashion is about setting a trend not following others.
"Beauty and Body Image in the Media." Media Awareness Network. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm.
"Bulimia & Anorexia in the Media." Bookrags. 2006. 20 Nov. 07 http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2004/12/13/185919/25.
Clonts, Lauren. "Anorexia Possibly Fueled by Media Images." The Daily ToReador. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007 http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2004/11/18/LifeLeisure/Anorexia.Possibly.Fueled.By.Media.Images-1279856.shtml.
"The Media." Something Fishy. CRC Healthgroup. 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.something-fishy.org/cultural/themedia.php.
