Post 2: Does media inflict a negative influence on self image?

The media has been seen as influencing our self image negatively in certain ways. In terms of physical appearance, people are largely affected by what they see on media. After years of exposure to the “beautiful and handsome” public figures portrayed in media, many people somehow generated lower self esteem after comparing themselves to the so called “good looking”.

Pick up a fashion magazine today and we’ll see models who are thinner than 98% of all the girls and women in America. Turn on a television and see ‘sexy’ celebrities baring their flesh (Kelly Nault, 2005). It is evidently seen that these "role models" have subconsciously set the standard of what is "good-looking" in this evolving century. Out of 20 friends i interviewed, 11 of them would tell me they had attempted dieting. After probing personally into their personal reasons, i can draw close association of media's portrayal of beauty as the root cause. To support my assumption, according to the National Eating and Disorders Association, 51% of 9 and 10-year-old girls feel better about themselves when on a diet, after exposure to media's portrayal of "beauty". 

However, some think that this hypothesis might stand only to teenagers especially girls. But there are researches that shows even male adults when exposed to the seemingly “good-looking” through media, change their perception of their self image as well.

In a clinical report that researched on the association of male body image and psychological well-being, It has been found out that there are significant associations between participants' physical self-evaluations and psychological well-being. Appearance evaluation accounted for about 20 percent of variance in participants' psychological self-acceptance (Tager, Glen, Julie, 2006).This shows how much influence appearance has on healthy self image. Hence, exposure to media may significantly affect the pursue of the “right” self image in a much superficial and cliché manner, anchoring on just physical looks, when self image entails more than the physical.

However much statistics and findings points to the negative influence of media on self image, it is important to also know that media does not solely affects self image and actualisation. Parents and friends’ support to build a healthy self esteem and image plays an important role as well.  

Resources

Kelly Nault (2005). Teenage girl + media = low self esteem. Ezine Article. Retrieved march 11, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenage-Girls-+-Media-=-Low-Self-Esteem&id=96389

Tager, David; Glenn Good,; Julie Morrison,. "Our bodies, ourselves revisited: male body image and psychological well-being.(Clinical report)." International Journal of Men's Health. Men's Studies Press. 2006. HighBeam Research. 10 Mar. 2012, from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159027487.html