BODY IMAGE IN THE MEDIA

HSP3MIntroduction to Sociology, Psychology and

Anthropology

Body Image in the Media: An Introduction

Social Comparison Theory: People will [at some point in their lives] compare themselves and significant others to people and images whom they perceive to represent realistic goals to attain (Botta, 1999).

We look to the media to define, shape and explain the world around us (Bereska, 2004).

Many people internalize the ideals promoted in the mass media and judge themselves by these unattainable standards (Bereska, 2004).

MEDIA LITERACY “ The ability to sift through and analyze the

messages that inform, entertain and sell to us everyday. It is the ability to bring critical thinking skills to bear on all media... it's the instinct to question what lies behind media productions— the motives, the money, the

values and the ownership— and to be aware of how these factors influence content.”

(http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/what_is_media_literacy.cfm)

Explain whether or not it is realistic to compare oneself to the images portrayed in the media?

To what extent could one argue that media images portraying unrealistic body images influence young people?

You Decide…

www.abercrombie.ca

ww

w.p

eople

.com

/peop

le/ty

ra_b

anks

Males face a comparable amount of pressure to females when it comes to body image in the media.

Focus less on weight and more on masculinity

Males face pressures to be LARGER and more MUSCULAR without becoming fatter (Bereska, 2004).

The average male model has shed 12 lbs of fat and gained 25 lbs of muscle in the past 25 yrs. http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Body_Image/Body_Image.htm

Media Portrayals of Males

http://i.models.com/model_culture/50topmalemodels/images/oliver.jpg

The presence of THIN male models has been on the rise.

A wide range of body sizes are more acceptable for males compared to females.

HOWEVER, there are social consequences for being overweight for both males and females.(Bereska, 2004).

Media Portrayals of Malesh

ttp

://i1

86

.ph

oto

bu

cket.

com

/alb

um

s/x1

69

/10

0m

ale

mod

els

/ca

lvin

klein

man

-garr

ett

neff

.jp

g

What can be identified as being some of the social consequences that both males and

females suffer as a result of not living up to the ideal body image presented in the

media?

Discussion Question:

http://www.bwgreyscale.com/ads/guess.html

Portrayals of females in all forms of media have become THINNER over the last several decades (Bereska, 2004)

25 yrs ago the average model weighed 8% less than the average North American Woman; Currently the average female model weighs 23% below her average weight. (http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Body_Image/Body_Image.htm).

The gap between women in the media and the average women in society as grown and will continue to grow (Bereska, 2004).

Media Portrayals of Females

http://55secretstreet.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/12/hfredriksson5.jpg

Average Female Model: 5 Feet 9 Inches 123 lbs Sixe 6-8 Dangerously low body fat

Average North American Woman: 5 Feet 4 Inches 144 lbs Size 12

50 % OF FEMALES AND 35% OF MALES REPORT DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR BODY IMAGE.

(Bain, 2001)

The Average Person Vs. The Model

http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/the-situation-of-body-image/

What are some of the dangers that one could predict as occurring as a result of the media portraying body image ideals that are becoming increasingly thin for

females and extremely muscular for males?

Discussion Question:

http://femininebeauty.info/images /skinny.models.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27480143@N06/3710138648/

www.abercrombie.ca

How might body image in the media affect males and females

differently?

Females vs. Males in the Media

http://www.bwgreyscale.com/ads/ralph_lauren

http://www.abercrombie.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/division_11306_10901_12202_-1

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/homepage.do