Media, the negative body image scape goat for those with low self esteem

[nova_usagi]

[Disclaimer: ...Any generic male pronouns are for both sexes. Writing he/she gets old and even though I'm female, I prefer to use male pronouns when referring to everyone. It's an English lit and paper writing habit

Comments

[morriganslair]

Japanese women tend to be smaller than the melting-pot milleu of women in the United States, ergo the women in the US Dove ad are going to be a bit larger to reflect the average-sized woman relative to that country.

I understand that it IS up to the individual to accept responsibilities for their own problems and feelings, but we are a visual species, and certain images can act as triggers to those who already have a body-image illness (such as body dysmorphia or an eating disorder)

And while the paradigm has changed from voluptuous to rail-thin to curvy to tan to whatever, the fact is the PARADIGM itself still exists. Creating such paradigms is a part of human nature, but we must keep this innate idolization in check if we are to have a healthy CULTure. I'm not saying we should become blind, but this whole cult of the celebrity is getting a bit old, considering we've been doing it for thousands of years.

[nova_usagi]

Japanese women tend to be smaller than the melting-pot milleu of women in the United States, ergo the women in the US Dove ad are going to be a bit larger to reflect the average-sized woman relative to that country.In Japan eating is different. There aren't cafeterias in high school, their donut chain doesn't serve as large or sweet donuts. Cola isn't as popular. PE is all the way through high school, every semester. There are after school sport clubs all the way through college. They eat smaller portions and they take more personal responsibility for self. Seeing an obese person is very, very rare there. Since over 60% of Japanese women are not overweight, the whole "Real women have real curves" line just won't work

[nova_usagi]

Hah! I had a brainfart and wrote, "And the belief that it is more prevalent is perpetuated by self dragonesses." Classic. It should be, "And the belief that it is more prevalent is perpetuated by self diagnosises." I don't know what I was thinking... About dragons I guess.

[moonkisu]

The society in japan is different then that of the US.

[nova_usagi]

Yeah, I actually like it. However it's not illegal to deiscriminate over there, which some people have problems with.

[morriganslair]

I really wish we as a society could eat better like the Japanese.

And the reason I said media images could be triggers for those who ALREADY have problems like BDD is because the people suffering from said illness(es) MAKE it a trigger, perhaps subconsciously.

And I have to agree with ice_lady in terms of impressionable ages and peer pressure. The media is unfortunately what kids (as a whole) focus on the most, and they are constantly comparing themselves to celebrities. All the research in the world can't refute that. Yes, it is unhealthy and yes, it is up to the individual parents to help steer their children into more healthy vocations like sports or art, but at those ages it's nearly impossible to walk around completely impervious to the misguided environments that foster celebrity obsession.

[nova_usagi]

The media is not what kids focus on or are affected by the most. Older siblings, classmates, neighborhood kids, or students who are a grade or two higher within the same school have more influence on them than the media. At least for most kids it does.

Girls may like certain movie stars, but the connection with people they socialize with has more influence because there are actual social bonds.