How Media Influences Body Image

Summary

The website content discusses the impact of media on body image and self-esteem, emphasizing the need to reclaim personal self-worth from societal pressures.

Abstract

The article "The Culture of Beauty" delves into the pervasive influence of media on societal standards of beauty and its subsequent effect on individual body image. It highlights how media, through various channels such as magazines, advertisements, and music, perpetuates unrealistic ideals of physical perfection, particularly affecting women's self-perception. The piece suggests that technology amplifies these issues by enabling altered depictions of people in media. It proposes a media detox as a method for individuals to reassess their self-image and improve their relationship with their internal and external selves. The article also touches on the role of music videos in shaping beauty standards and encourages a broader perspective on self-identity beyond physical appearance.

Opinions

The media significantly influences popular opinion on beauty, often setting unattainable standards of attractiveness.
Women's body images are disproportionately affected by society's focus on the female form, leading to negative self-image.
Media is recognized as a powerful force that can both positively and negatively impact society, with its influence expanding through technology.
A media detox is recommended as a way to gauge and potentially improve one's self-esteem, free from external influences.
Music, especially music videos, is seen as a potent medium that can shape perceptions of beauty and self-worth, sometimes through the objectification of women.
The article advocates for a balanced view of self, emphasizing the importance of internal qualities over external appearances, as often portrayed in media.
The author, Destiny S. Harris, encourages readers to engage in self-reflection and to take breaks from media consumption to maintain a healthy sense of self.

Media Influences

Popular opinion on what is considered beautiful and attractive is often dictated and influenced by the media (e.g., magazines, entertainment, advertisements, music, etc.).

Society’s obsession with the body (especially the female body) and physical attractiveness has proved to be highly influential on the body images of women; women’s body images have often been negatively affected by society’s focus on the female body. Furthermore, women’s bodies, in general, are over-sexualized and magnified to be either criticized or praised.

Media is everywhere. We hear it. We see it. Many of us ponder on it both consciously and subconsciously. We feel it through the messages that are being conveyed (e.g., music and advertisements).

Media is powerful and influential, and media continues to expand its influence on society in various ways. Because media is so influential on society, it has affected many people both positively and negatively.

In combination with media, technology can change the way people are depicted in advertisements and entertainment, which delivers consistent standards and examples of perfection (which are often impossible to achieve).

People who consistently engage in media consumption daily (e.g., television, music, and social media) are usually affected in some form, whether positive or negative.

A good way to test how much the media has impacted your self-image is to take a break from social media, television, and even certain kinds of music for one to three weeks.

Notice how you feel about yourself during the duration of your media detox. In fact, you can even take notes on how you feel about yourself each day while you do this activity. If you complete this activity, be sure to log how you feel about your overall external and internal self before you begin the media detox.

Besides having media withdrawals, I guarantee that you will feel more positive about your self-image after completing this activity. If you want to start small, choose one source of media to detox from for one week and then a different form of media the next week. It is a good idea to take breaks from media throughout life to maintain balance.

Media Challenge (1–14 Days): Each day, log how you feel about yourself externally and internally. Feel free to log about other things as well.

Music Videos

Not all music videos perpetuate and convey negative messages. In fact, many music videos are positive, funny, interesting, and entertaining. However, many music videos depict people that look perfect. Some videos cast women for one purpose it seems; objectification (this is changing in some modern videos).

When women are constantly portrayed as objects to be gazed upon with no regard to who they are as a person, it leads many women astray. Many women become obsessed with their external image.

Why do we tend to see men clad, but women barely clad?

Learn to see yourself as a complete person. In many videos, women often wear less clothing while men are often fully clad. In my opinion, clothing in music videos can represent how much of “the self” a person reveals.

Women in these videos, who are wearing less clothing than men, are often revealing less of their internal selves by putting more focus and attention on their external bodies, which distracts a person from seeing who they truly are; this example is consistent and conveys that the internal body is not as important as the external body.

The Culture of Beauty

How Media Influences Body Image

Take Back Control Of Your Self-Esteem

Media Influences

Music

Music Videos

The Culture of Beauty Series