Presented by: Shayla AlaminoPresented by: Shayla AlaminoCMC 100 Professor GournelosCMC 100 Professor Gournelos

““Does this Does this make me make me

look fat?” – look fat?” – The The

GirlfriendGirlfriend

““If I lose a If I lose a couple more couple more pounds. He’ll pounds. He’ll

notice me notice me again.” –The again.” –The

WifeWife

““If I look If I look just like just like

her. I’ll get her. I’ll get the guy!” – the guy!” –

The GirlThe Girl

““If I use this If I use this Nivea Nivea

Redefining Redefining Gel-Cream I Gel-Cream I will be as will be as

thin as her.” thin as her.” – The Young – The Young

WomanWoman

I am doing a textual I am doing a textual analysis of the 2009 analysis of the 2009 September issue of September issue of O MagazineO Magazine. This . This paper will discuss paper will discuss the psychological the psychological

impact media has on impact media has on women’s body women’s body image in the image in the

American culture. I American culture. I am going to be am going to be looking at the looking at the situation, the situation, the

physical attributes, physical attributes, and the imagery and the imagery

techniques to techniques to support my analysis.support my analysis.

Happiness is equated Happiness is equated with romantic with romantic

fulfillment. Romantic fulfillment. Romantic fulfillment is equated fulfillment is equated

with physical with physical attraction. Physical attraction. Physical

attraction is equated attraction is equated with ideal body image.with ideal body image. Woman gets man Woman gets man

through physical through physical attraction.attraction.

Man loses interest in Man loses interest in his hobby and gains his hobby and gains interest in woman, if interest in woman, if slim and attractive.slim and attractive.

Ideal women are Ideal women are slender, confident, and slender, confident, and

attractive.attractive. Getting slim means Getting slim means you are one step closer you are one step closer

to getting a man.to getting a man.

““Rediscover your favorite jeans. Rediscover your favorite jeans. And how they still get his And how they still get his

attention.”attention.”

The woman who is The woman who is already skinny is being already skinny is being used to sell a “bio-slim used to sell a “bio-slim complex” gel-cream.complex” gel-cream.

The woman is wearing a The woman is wearing a similar outfit to the similar outfit to the

other woman on the box other woman on the box of the product.of the product.

The woman is wearing a The woman is wearing a fitted outfit to reveal fitted outfit to reveal

her figure.her figure. Upper-Middle class Upper-Middle class

woman from the woman from the reflection of her reflection of her

surrounding surrounding environment. environment. (large (large

mirror, wood floor, beautiful blue mirror, wood floor, beautiful blue curtains, comfortable bed with curtains, comfortable bed with

earth toned comforter.) earth toned comforter.)

NIVEA TOUCH AND BE TOUCHEDNIVEA TOUCH AND BE TOUCHED

Photo taken from males Photo taken from males perspective. The Male Gaze.perspective. The Male Gaze.

Man examines woman which Man examines woman which reenfornces sexual aesthetic reenfornces sexual aesthetic and sexual attraction.and sexual attraction.

Slice of life moment of romantic Slice of life moment of romantic physical attraction.physical attraction.

Woman’s reflection is the center Woman’s reflection is the center of focus and not actual woman. of focus and not actual woman. When a woman looks at a When a woman looks at a mirror, this is what the mirror, this is what the advertisement might encourage advertisement might encourage their target audience to see.their target audience to see.

The actual woman looks slightly The actual woman looks slightly larger than her reflection.larger than her reflection.

The jeans of the actual woman The jeans of the actual woman are more washed out than the are more washed out than the woman in the reflection.woman in the reflection.

Earth toned colors are used in Earth toned colors are used in this image, making the jeans a this image, making the jeans a focus point in the focus point in the advertisement. Women are advertisement. Women are mostly self- conscious around mostly self- conscious around their thighs and stomach area.their thighs and stomach area.

Media has a Media has a substantial impact substantial impact on women’s self on women’s self

esteem towards their esteem towards their personal body personal body

image.image. It’s an unhealthy It’s an unhealthy

obsession. obsession. We are told everyday We are told everyday

through thousands through thousands of advertisements of advertisements how to dress, what how to dress, what

size pants are size pants are socially acceptable, socially acceptable, and what essentially and what essentially

looks good on looks good on women’s bodies. women’s bodies.