Sociocultural standards of women are shown in majority forms of media images that portray what is considered to be the "ideal body." Research indicates that women are negatively influenced by continuous exposure to models that meet the standards of the unrealistic media ideal of beauty. The media presents the perfect body to the public, relying on consumers to strive to achieve that same ideal using a certain product or idea. While this tactic may increase a product's profit rate, we as consumers suffer from inner conflicts as a result and some experience further physical problems, including bulimia, anorexia, obsessive exercise, low self-esteem, and even depression. There are different ways to explain why women internalize these ideals such as social comparison, cultivation, and self-schema. Each theory examines how media influence can affect the body image disturbance in women…
Body image is a complex part of the self-concept that concerns one’s emotions and perceptions about their body and physical appearance (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). Women of all ages and sizes have been found to experience dissatisfaction with what they look like to others at a much higher rate than males (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2002). People are at greater risk to show a disturbed body image if they hold unpractical and unrealistic beliefs about their physical appearance, regardless of body mass, length, shape etc. (Butters & Cash, 1987). The increasing rates of eating disorders are vital, because being dissatisfied with your body and preoccupied with food, shape, and weight are some of the main symptoms for anorexia and bulimia. Statistics vary, but most state that 3% to 10% of females ages 15 to 29 could be considered anorexic or bulimic.
From the media’s point of veiw , thinness is idealized and expected for women in order to be attractive. Imagery in advertisements, television, and music usually stage the "ideal woman" as tall, white, and thin, with a "tubular" body, and blonde...