The girl singing along to that song on the radio? She has probably doubted her beauty at some point in her life. Media is a large contributor for issues with self-image. With the rising epidemic of eating disorders, one should take into consideration the amount of pressure that someone might feel to be considered beautiful. Parents should pay more attention to what their child watches because it can lead a child into believing that beauty is defined by appearance, diminish the severity of substance use at a young age, and violent films and television shows have been proven to induce anger in children.
Competitions such as beauty pageants are incredibly demeaning and corrupting for the young girls participating in them. According to David Hinckley, many children only compete in these pageants to please their parents (“Child Beauty Pageants…”). What makes the matter worse is that being forced into this lifestyle resorts to the notion that all girls should act a certain way and display a certain image, which can be problematic if the child decides that she doesn’t want to be like most girls her age.
One of the most disputed arguments is that the dolls that young girls play with create unrealistic expectations for their bodies. An experiment conducted by a Dutch university concluded that girls who played with thin dolls ate significantly less than those who played with average sized dolls (Anschutz and Engels 621). This analysis comes to show how something that seems as innocent as a Barbie doll can lead a young girl into thinking that they must have a similar body structure. Looking aside from the shape of the doll, one can also notice that the doll is of Caucasian descent; which discredits the beauty of non-white girls.
Along with the famous Barbie doll, there is another, more provocative doll that is fancied by young girls. Bratz dolls became popular among younger audiences and earned criticism by many for being too sexy. The doll is known for wearing a full face of makeup and usually dressed with clothing that is too revealing to be glorified by children. One would think that because a younger version of these dolls were released they’d be more discreet. The Bratz Babyz were released after the popularity of the original doll increased. The controversy lies in how most, if not all of these “babies” are dressed in underwear or skirts that are short enough to be considered underwear. Dolls like these give the impression that it is normative for a child to walk around exposing their bodies and potentially making them targets for the depraved people who prey on little girls.
The media also plays a massive role in how young girls perceive themselves. Plastic surgery is popular among the people these girls look up to and society has put together a notion that beauty is reliant on physical appearance. The problem with this is that these people idolized by adolescents are either underweight or have undergone plastic surgery to have an obviously unnatural body. In order to have these figures, the chances of girls as young as five developing an eating disorder is high. As Stephanie Damiano et al. found, almost half of the girls interviewed suffered with an eating disorder or wanted to be thinner (1168). This clearly shows that eating disorders have only expanded in terms of those affected.
Celebrity culture dwells on appearance. In an online post, Lisa Bloom explains that “we’ve become seduced by our shallow, self-absorbed celebutainment culture” (qtd in “Celebrity Gossip…”). Magazines are quick to scrutinize celebrities who have gained or lost weight by calling them fat or accusing them of having an eating disorder. It’s also clear that some young women have their definition of “success” mixed up with appraisal for beauty. A study showed that 25% of women would prefer to win a competition that is dedicated to judging the image of someone over an accomplishment that glorifies philanthropy (“Celebrity Gossip…”). Studies like this add to the credibility of the notion that one’s appearance is always going to be the top priority.
But obviously, the biggest problem lies within the presence of eating disorders and mental illness among teenagers. Kohn and Golden discussed a survey where it was found that 0.50% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are battling with anorexia (92). This is clearly
a serious issue given that there is roughly a 6% chance that someone who is affected by anorexia nervosa will die (92). These facts should serve as a basis to raise awareness of how serious eating disorders can be.
Music videos and television shows are arguably two of the most provocative platforms. A study done by Hayley K. Dohnt, who is finishing her PhD in Clinical Psychology, and Marika Tiggemann, who is a professor of Psychology, only adds to the authenticity of this argument. The results of the study demonstrated that girls who watched popular music videos were more inclined to start a diet than those who didn’t (149). The reason for this, as explained by Dohnt and Tiggemann is that music videos tend to emphasize on the sexualization of women, which are usually presented as thin and attractive (149). Being exposed to such images can suggest that a girl must dress or act a certain way to be noticed by others.
Any image seen in a magazine or even photos taken of celebrities by paparazzi are far from what they actually look like. As told by Brad Adams, a photographer who runs a photo retouching service in New York, “One hundred percent of fashion photos are retouched” (qtd. in Mehta). This adds to the idea that even the most beautiful people will never be pretty enough or skinny enough to be publicized as how they are on a day-to-day basis.
The negative impact of the media isn’t exclusive to women. Tying in with the idea that female models and celebrities are photoshopped, so are men. A condition known as bigorexia, is a form of body dysmorphic disorder in which a muscular man sees himself as being too skinny, therefore may be obsessed with having larger muscles (Mehta). Because of this, the chances of a man resorting to anabolic steroids in order to achieve the body of male models and some actors is high. The overuse of steroids is dangerous and can result in death. Some of the long-term effects are damage to the kidney, liver, and heart problems that increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, regardless of age (“Anabolic Steroids”). The dangers of using these drugs has been such a common issue among athletes that many have been disqualified from competitions for using steroids.
One can certainly argue that the models that are seen walking on runways aren’t exactly endorsing unhealthy eating behaviors. Lisa Hilton, author of The Fashion Industry Should Not Be Held Responsible for Eating Disorders, includes an excerpt in her article in which an ex-model explains that although there was a vast amount of pressure to be thin, the money she earned put her through an ivy-league education while living in a respected city in New York (Hilton). This argument is effective in the way that it provides information implying that there is not much of a price to pay to earn a good amount of money. However, what people fail to realize is that looking aside from how wealthy most models are, most of the well-known models are tall and thin. Given the many statistics showing how much the media can influence a person, it would be predictable for a girl to believe that she has to be a size 0 to become a model.
Adding to outrageous assumption that the fashion industry does not contribute to the many cases of eating disorders reported throughout the globe, the industry does nothing to revoke the stereotype that a person must look a certain way to be beautiful. A writer for New Statesman, describes the anorexia industry as “cynical idolatry masquerading as public concern in order to sell magazines” (Penny). Eating disorders in the fashion industry should be held on the same level of severity as steroid use among athletes. Anorexia is regularly seen as a sign of being determined, or dedicated to a profession that glorifies thin women, such as fashion.
The media also displays gender roles that tend to dissuade girls and boys from going out of their comfort zone and expressing themselves in ways that do not conform to society’s standards. Everyone, regardless of gender should be allowed to express themselves in whatever way they please. For example, a boy can be given the impression that he’s supposed to treat a girl like dirt because it’s normative for a girl in a movie to like the guys who don’t care about them. This goes the same way for girls who are expected to act a certain way in order to be a proper “lady”. But in reality, the idea that a girl who swears or is open about her sexual endeavors is any less of a lady than any other woman is absurd.
Tying into the idea that media has a large impact on how a girl sees life, the portrayal of Disney princesses creates unrealistic expectations. According to the modern day fairytale, a girl’s destiny is to fall in love with a man. This not only pushes away girls who are attracted to other girls, but also makes a girl feel like if she won’t amount to anything besides being a wife. Girls should be encouraged to do things they want to do, not because some rubbish fairytale suggests otherwise. With this “idyllic” lifestyle, a girl can easily believe that every man she comes across might be her “Prince Charming” therefore can be gullible in believing he actually loves her when he treats her poorly.
The content that parents allow their children to watch also plays a large role in the things they’re exposed to. Obviously, no parent can completely monitor every single thing a child does but one should take more precautions in reducing the risk of exposure. As noted by Victor Strasburger, doctor and professor of Pediatrics, 70% of television shows involve sexual situations and less one-third of them spread awareness of the consequences that may occur from having sex at a young age (558). Although an older audience cannot deny that some of the programs shown on MTV or HBO can be entertaining, one can only imagine the kind of things a child would learn from watching shows like The Hard Times of RJ Berger, which implies that a boy wouldn’t be liked by girls unless he was well-endowed.
The use of alcohol or drugs is also very common in films or television shows. Movies tend to give the impression that the only way one can have fun is to be under the influence of some drug or be drunk; they’re usually underage in television shows. This expands the likeliness of a child or teenager wanting to be funny or liked by others like a drunk person in movies. On top of this, drinking has become a “normative behavior” in the media (Strasburger 559). There have also been less children using tobacco since the use of it has decreased in television and films (Strasburger 560). This strongly indicates that children and teenagers are definitely impacted by what they see on television.
Alongside the media’s overuse of sexual content and substance use, the most common act shown in the media is violence. Most if not all movies and television shows that aren’t created for the purpose of appealing to children have some act of violence. Most young boys are raised watching shows like The Power Rangers or a comic book-based movie but the problem with this is that all of these shows revolve around the idea of fighting the bad guy. As noted in the article Comfortably Numb: Desensitizing Effects of Violent Media on Helping Others, some of the effects that violent media can have on those who watch it are a lack of sympathy for those involved in violent acts and adapting the mindset that violence is normal (Bushman and Anderson 274). This can ultimately lead to hostility in their actions and increase the likeliness of one not helping someone when they’re in obvious need (Bushman and Anderson 274). Given this information, it is likely for one who is constantly exposed to violent media to little regard to the suffering of others.
Reality television is another contributor to psychological effects that a television show can have on those who participate in it. Shows such as The Bachelor and its spinoff, The Bachelorette, can have a tremendous impact on its participants. Although these shows only include physically attractive men and women, it is safe to say that there could be emotional damage among the contestants who get sent home. A prime example of how reality television can affect someone would be the suicide of Russell Armstrong, who was married to one of the women on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Viewers of reality television shows essentially have an all-access pass to the lives of those featured on the shows. As with any celebrity, their lives are exploited and the pressure of being in the public eye can certainly take its toll on one’s life.
Arguments about whether or not the media has a direct effect on viewers have been disputed for many years. One can say that paying attention to celebrity gossip can actually help one understand that mental-stability does not come with fame or that peer pressure is only an excuse for a reckless child (“Celebrity Gossip…”; Ungar). While this is true in the sense that it shows the general public that having money or being known by millions of people doesn’t guarantee happiness, it can easily be contradicted. The idea that the drama in the life of celebrities can help one see the bright side of a situation can easily be proven false given the wealth that a celebrity has as opposed to someone who is dealing with a financial crisis on top of whatever else they’re going through. In the example of a drug or alcohol addiction, a celebrity has the luxury of being able to afford to go to a top-tier rehabilitation facility while many other people must deal with their issues without any help. The argument that peer pressure is merely an excuse, however, is a more understandable clause. Certainly, if someone is at a party with friends and another person brings drugs or alcohol, one might be tempted to follow the actions of their friends, but in the end it’s all a matter of choice. Unless said person is held against their will and told to use a particular substance, one cannot blame peers for the actions of someone who is fully capable of making their own decisions.
Social media platforms are a large benefactor to a girl’s popularity. Nowadays when scrolling through Instagram, it is considered normal for one to come across a picture of a 10-year-old girl in a skimpy bikini or a video in which a child lip-syncs to a song while throwing up gang signs. Certainly someone from a city notorious for its gang-related violence might feel offended by how a child can think its “cool” to represent an organization known for its excessive drug use or sex-trafficking ring. Children can be oblivious and susceptible in romanticizing the more profane side of music without knowing the impact that some of these subjects discussed in the music has had on people. Although not all music explicitly talks about subjects such as sex and murder, a parent can only hope their child never listens to the songs that do go well into detail about these subjects.
The upside is that those who are around children and want to keep limits to what the child is exposed to is that most of the popular artists today tend to stay away from controversial subjects or aren’t too detailed when bringing up the concept of murder. This however changed when a song by well-known rapper, Eminem, was released in 2000. One of the more controversial lines reads: “You and your husband have a fight one of you tries to grab a knife during the struggle he accidentally gets his Adam’s apple sliced (No!) And while this is goin’ on his son just woke up and he just walks in. She panics and he gets his throat cut” (Eminem). Luckily, the chances of younger audiences coming across music that isn’t played on the radio is slim.
The media can have a number of effects on those who are exposed to it, especially children. These effects can include, but are not limited to the likeliness of exhibiting angry behaviors toward peers, seeing reckless/violent behaviors as normal, and believing that one’s beauty is reliant on their own physical appearance. While many of the disorders associated with media influence are seen as exclusive for women, it can affect any age or sex. With the increase of susceptibility among children given the many forms of media that are accessible, a parent should be more careful of what their child is exposed to.