Hey again! First I will say sorry that this blog post is late. I was in Brisbane visiting my two best friends, one who I have been friends with for going on eight years now and the other who has recently moved down there to study at UQ, St Lucia.

But now for this week's post. I have decided to talk to you about the intense negative body image pressure that is put on teenagers by mass media. In society today, the pressure to be thin is unrealistic and dangerous to young people's health, both mentally and physically. Before you read on you should know that TeensHealth (2012) says that body image refers to the way in which a person feels about their physical or outwards appearance. So what is mass media? Beresin and Derenne (2006 p:257) explain that the term mass media covers the television, internet, magazines and movie facets of entertainment.

I am a strong believer that these four media outlets produce, sometimes, extremely false representations of reality. With modern technology like Photoshop, special effects and many more, it is easy to create a 'beautiful' or anatomically correct human figure. In real life very few people can live up to the standards set by the media. These unrealistic standards produce a problem. Yep you guessed it...negative body image issues. The issues associated with negative body image can be as mild as dissatisfaction or as extreme as depression, anxiety and suicidal thinking (Science Daily, 2006). Oh, and of course body dissatisfaction can also cause eating based disorders such as bulimia, anorexia or over-eating.

When you think of the internet, television, movies and magazines do you think of only Australia? No of course you don’t, you know that they are everywhere. That is also where negative body image issues are being found…everywhere. America, Brittan, Asia; you name it and chances are teenagers are feeling the same way there. Do you know what the scariest thing about the negative mass media is? It is inescapable. Teenagers can be confronted in their own bedrooms, out on the streets with friends, relaxing with the family; the possibilities are endless.  

Traditionally negative body image issues were thought to only target females. But it is not only the girls being affected anymore. Grogan and Richards (2002 p:319) conducted tests finding that teenage males strongly identified with concerns over physical appearance. The pressure to appear lean and muscled is overwhelming young males today, just as females feel pressured to be lean and big busted.

The natural question is then why isn’t mass media forced to adapt its portrayals to ease the pressure that is placed on teens. The answer is simple (and infuriating) we have gotten so used to seeing thin, muscled, tanned, ‘beautiful’ people, that the slightest imperfection stands out and make us think ‘hey wait a minute, why couldn’t they find someone better than that’. Think about it honesty, have you ever watched a movie and thought ‘wow that actor is a little large at the moment’. I know I have, even though that actor would still be lighter than me. If you have ever seen ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, a movie with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, you might recall a scene where a man asks Anne for her dress size. When she states she is a size 6, he tells her that the size 6 is now the equivalent to a size 14. This is a prime example of how society demands perfection. That even a thin person is made to feel fat so that they aspire to become better looking.

Just imagine for a minute what would happen if this pressure was lifted. People would be seen for whom they are not what they looked like, there wouldn’t be an indicator for who was more attractive and there would less (or even no) eating based disorders. If the mass media portrayed real, untouched images of the human figure, I believe that it might be possible for the future generations to escape this warped belief of the ideal person.

There have been some attempts to alter teenage perception. Youth Central (2012) states that the Victorian government introduced a media code of conduct on body image encouraging change of enhanced and altered images, diversity in shapes, modelling health and fair placement. However this code is strictly voluntary and the guidelines are not set in stone.

Shortly after this guideline was introduced the popular Australian magazine Girlfriend, targeting teenage female audiences, launched a ‘Do.Think.Be Positive’ campaign that aimed to alter the teens perception of beauty and normal figures.

The magazine began shooting fashion models of all races, shapes and sizes as well as labelling all photos that were not altered as ‘retouch free zones’. They also introduced articles that encouraged self-respect and believing in beauty in all shapes and sizes. This campaign brought the magazine endless praise. In December 2008, Australian model Miranda Kerr wrote; “Congratulations Girlfriend for embarking on an initiative that has the ability to inspire and create changes in teenagers’ lives. I applaud this campaign in every way”.

Once more, just for me, imagine what it could be like if all media outlets embraced a new way of thinking.

Amanda :)

References:

Beresin, E., & Derenne, J. (2006, May). Body Image, Media and Eating Disorders. Retrieved March 17, 2012, from <http://www.ap.psychiatryonline.org>.

Girlfriend Magazine Online. (2008, December). Do.Think.Be Positive. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from <http://www.yahoo.com/girlfriend>.

Grogan, S., & Richards, H. (2002). Men and Masculinites. Mens Health, pg 319.

Science Daily. (2006, June 6). Negative Body Image Related to Depression, Anxiety and Suicidality. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from <http://www.sciencedaily.com>.

Teenshealth. (2012). Body Image and Self Esteen. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from <http://www.kidshealth.org>.

Youth Central. (2012). helping Media Make Changes. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from <http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au>.

Pictures found:

http://www.youthcentral.vic.go.au
http://www.yahoo.com/girlfriend