"Beauty comes as much from the mind
as from the eye." ~Grey Livingston
WHAT IS BODY IMAGE?
Body image is an inner representation of the physical self. It encompasses factors such as body type, weight, height, facial features, hair length, and hair color... any aspect of physical appearance. In this article we will mostly be discussing body image in terms of body shape/weight. People can have a positive body image or a negative one. Positive body image is characterized by high self-esteem, healthy eating habits, a normal concern for appearance (as in their looks do not control their day to day life). One may conclude then that a negative body image is just the opposite: very low feelings of self-worth; dangerous eating habits (extreme dieting, obsessive exercise, eating disorders); and an obsessive, life-controlling concern for outward appearance.
WHAT AFFECTS BODY IMAGE?
One's body image is a subjective issue, but is influenced by many outside sources. Often times these outside sources do not only influence one's body image, but they distort one's perception so that their idea of "beauty" is so unrealistic that it becomes unattainable. Society's main source of information that influences how we view ourselves is the media. Everywhere we look within the media we see beauty ideals. One of the most influential aspects of the media on our body image is the magazine. "But for women's beauty and fashion magazines, the genre is probably better than any other media genre to epitomize physical attractiveness" (Hu and Wang 2009).
Research upon research has been conducted to try and determine just how magazines affect our feelings about ourselves. Today's magazines contain images of unrealistically shaped models; Barbie-shaped women and "macho" men. The models always have the "best" hair, the "ideal" bodies, the "greatest" smiles, and the "perfect" faces. Who, however, defines exactly what is best, ideal, great, and perfect? Many believe that it is the media that gives society its definition of beauty, and magazines, in particular emphasize our beauty ideals. By consistently presenting readers with models that are either slender, tan, toned, and smooth (for women) or muscular, tall, and "ripped" (for men), magazines are suggesting that these are the best ways to look. Since magazines are normally used for advice to improve upon something (Women's/Men's Health to improve our health; Home&Garden to improve our home and garden; Glamour to improve our looks); readers turn to them for help. Instead of presenting readers with ways to improve our lives; however, magazines make us feel hopeless. Magazine covers contain sayings such as, "How to Get the Perfect Hair", "Ten Lazy Ways to Lose Weight", "Get a Six-Pack and Be a Real Man", "Look like a Champ". After opening up one of these magazines, the viewer will see advertisement after advertisement, article after article, and picture after picture of flawless bodies. "In Western culture, there are many images of women with thin and flawless bodies. While unrealistic, these images have come to represent the ideal female body. This portrayal of the ideal female body has negatively affected women's body image and caused the development of eating disorders" (Grieve and Helmick, 2008). This internalized ideal of such an unrealistic beauty is becoming quite a problem in our society. When people cannot attain their idea of "beautiful", they will most likely form body dissatisfaction; and, extreme body dissatisfaction can lead to much deeper issues, such as eating disorders, poor self-esteem, and depression (Morry, 2001).
THEORIES
Perhaps the reason magazines have the ability to impact readers in such a way can be found within the self-objectification theory. This theory proposes that individuals judge themselves from a third-person perspective, therefore only viewing their outward appearance; versus taking a first-person approach which puts less emphasis on visible traits (Morry, 2001). Being so self-conscious makes us vulnerable targets for the magazine to aim its weapon.
Why do magazines affect readers in such negative ways? The most common accepted explanation is the socio-cultural model. The socio-cultural model emphasizes social and cultural ideals for slimness in women and muscularity in men. "The predominant factor in this model is the media's portrayal of the ideal female form as thin" (Morry, 2001, p. 1). As we have already seen, magazines play a huge part in the media's emphasis on slimness in women. An interesting study that supports the socio-cultural model was conducted by Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, and Thompson in 1980. They analyzed the heights and weights of Playboy models and Miss America pageant contestants for a period of twenty years, from 1959 to 1978. The results from their findings showed that the average weights of these women significantly decreased over time. (Morry, 2001). Considering the decline was steady, and that it was based on the average, it is safe to say that society and our culture had an impact on these women's weights.
BEAUTY THROUGH TIME
When discussing body image and beauty ideals, it is important to note how beauty has changed over time. Our 21st century idea of beauty is quite different from what was thought to be beautiful in the early 1900's, the 1800's, the 1700's...
To see the history of Western standards of beauty, click here
BEAUTY ACCORDING TO THE GENDERS
Although problems with body satisfaction are more commonly associated with women, men suffer with body image issues as well.
BEAUTY ACROSS THE WORLD
Primarily we have been focusing our attention on the beauty ideals of women within Western culture. I've included another page that addresses how men's body images are affected by the media, and I've also included other cultures and how their beauty ideals are depicted through magazines.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
More importantly, and with great pleasure, one must recognize that some magazines are beginning to embrace many different beauty ideals. To see an uplifting example, click here Magazines, like Glamour, are beginning to promote body confidence, instead of the thin ideal. They are supporting the idea that beauty can come in many forms, and is more than just a physical thing. If more magazines continue to adopt these theories, perhaps readers will be able to browse in peace and have a secure peace of mind that they are beautiful just the way they are. Perhaps eating disorders and low self-esteem will begin to go away. Perhaps there is hope for the future.
Dove's campaign for Real Beauty
To visit the Dove website and view how women all over the country are fighting against the magazine beauty ideals and redefining their own definition of beauty, click here
Hu, F., & Wang, M. (2009). Beauty and Fashion Magazines and College-Age Women's Appearance-Related Concerns. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association, 1-23. Retrieved from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Grieve, Rick; Helmick, Adrienne. (2008, September 22). The influence of men's self-objectification on the drive for muscularity: self-esteem, body satisfaction and muscle dysmorphia The Free Library. (2008). Retrieved April 01, 2010 from [[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The influence of men's self-objectification on the drive for...-a0189486241]]
Magazines and Body Image
"Beauty comes as much from the mind
as from the eye." ~Grey Livingston
WHAT IS BODY IMAGE?
Body image is an inner representation of the physical self. It encompasses factors such as body type, weight, height, facial features, hair length, and hair color... any aspect of physical appearance. In this article we will mostly be discussing body image in terms of body shape/weight. People can have a positive body image or a negative one. Positive body image is characterized by high self-esteem, healthy eating habits, a normal concern for appearance (as in their looks do not control their day to day life). One may conclude then that a negative body image is just the opposite: very low feelings of self-worth; dangerous eating habits (extreme dieting, obsessive exercise, eating disorders); and an obsessive, life-controlling concern for outward appearance.WHAT AFFECTS BODY IMAGE?
One's body image is a subjective issue, but is influenced by many outside sources. Often times these outside sources do not only influence one's body image, but they distort one's perception so that their idea of "beauty" is so unrealistic that it becomes unattainable. Society's main source of information that influences how we view ourselves is the media. Everywhere we look within the media we see beauty ideals. One of the most influential aspects of the media on our body image is the magazine. "But for women's beauty and fashion magazines, the genre is probably better than any other media genre to epitomize physical attractiveness" (Hu and Wang 2009).Research upon research has been conducted to try and determine just how magazines affect our feelings about ourselves. Today's magazines contain images of unrealistically shaped models; Barbie-shaped women and "macho" men. The models always have the "best" hair, the "ideal" bodies, the "greatest" smiles, and the "perfect" faces. Who, however, defines exactly what is best, ideal, great, and perfect? Many believe that it is the media that gives society its definition of beauty, and magazines, in particular emphasize our beauty ideals. By consistently presenting readers with models that are either slender, tan, toned, and smooth (for women) or muscular, tall, and "ripped" (for men), magazines are suggesting that these are the best ways to look. Since magazines are normally used for advice to improve upon something (Women's/Men's Health to improve our health; Home&Garden to improve our home and garden; Glamour to improve our looks); readers turn to them for help. Instead of presenting readers with ways to improve our lives; however, magazines make us feel hopeless. Magazine covers contain sayings such as, "How to Get the Perfect Hair", "Ten Lazy Ways to Lose Weight", "Get a Six-Pack and Be a Real Man", "Look like a Champ". After opening up one of these magazines, the viewer will see advertisement after advertisement, article after article, and picture after picture of flawless bodies. "In Western culture, there are many images of women with thin and flawless bodies. While unrealistic, these images have come to represent the ideal female body. This portrayal of the ideal female body has negatively affected women's body image and caused the development of eating disorders" (Grieve and Helmick, 2008). This internalized ideal of such an unrealistic beauty is becoming quite a problem in our society. When people cannot attain their idea of "beautiful", they will most likely form body dissatisfaction; and, extreme body dissatisfaction can lead to much deeper issues, such as eating disorders, poor self-esteem, and depression (Morry, 2001).
THEORIES
Perhaps the reason magazines have the ability to impact readers in such a way can be found within the self-objectification theory. This theory proposes that individuals judge themselves from a third-person perspective, therefore only viewing their outward appearance; versus taking a first-person approach which puts less emphasis on visible traits (Morry, 2001). Being so self-conscious makes us vulnerable targets for the magazine to aim its weapon.Why do magazines affect readers in such negative ways? The most common accepted explanation is the socio-cultural model. The socio-cultural model emphasizes social and cultural ideals for slimness in women and muscularity in men. "The predominant factor in this model is the media's portrayal of the ideal female form as thin" (Morry, 2001, p. 1). As we have already seen, magazines play a huge part in the media's emphasis on slimness in women. An interesting study that supports the socio-cultural model was conducted by Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, and Thompson in 1980. They analyzed the heights and weights of Playboy models and Miss America pageant contestants for a period of twenty years, from 1959 to 1978. The results from their findings showed that the average weights of these women significantly decreased over time. (Morry, 2001). Considering the decline was steady, and that it was based on the average, it is safe to say that society and our culture had an impact on these women's weights.
BEAUTY THROUGH TIME
When discussing body image and beauty ideals, it is important to note how beauty has changed over time. Our 21st century idea of beauty is quite different from what was thought to be beautiful in the early 1900's, the 1800's, the 1700's...To see the history of Western standards of beauty, click here
BEAUTY ACCORDING TO THE GENDERS
Although problems with body satisfaction are more commonly associated with women, men suffer with body image issues as well.BEAUTY ACROSS THE WORLD
Primarily we have been focusing our attention on the beauty ideals of women within Western culture. I've included another page that addresses how men's body images are affected by the media, and I've also included other cultures and how their beauty ideals are depicted through magazines.HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
More importantly, and with great pleasure, one must recognize that some magazines are beginning to embrace many different beauty ideals. To see an uplifting example, click here Magazines, like Glamour, are beginning to promote body confidence, instead of the thin ideal. They are supporting the idea that beauty can come in many forms, and is more than just a physical thing. If more magazines continue to adopt these theories, perhaps readers will be able to browse in peace and have a secure peace of mind that they are beautiful just the way they are. Perhaps eating disorders and low self-esteem will begin to go away. Perhaps there is hope for the future.Content
1. Magazines and Body Image (Home)
2. How magazines affect men
3. Worldview: how cultural beauty ideals differ
Sources