Media and Teenage Girls' Body Image

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the media's impact in pressuring teenage girls to possess the ideal, unrealistic, physical appearance. The paper discusses the physical, emotional and social effects these media images have upon girls and their feelings of self-worth. According to the writer, through an understanding of the true function of the media, teenage girls may better be able to both understand and translate the messages the media is sending.

Outline:
Introduction
Physically
Emotionally
Socially
Helping Teenage Girls to Understand the Messages
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"During the teenage years of girls both self-focus and awareness of others' evaluations of self are heightened. This concern with not only the internal perception, but also the external, creates additional pressure for the adolescent, further compounding the problem of self image. Body image has a major influence on adolescents' self-esteem, and both female and male adolescents place more importance on their appearance than adults, and adolescents also report higher levels of body dissatisfaction. (Dittmar et. al.) Image is a very important aspect of life, particularly to teenagers, and the media in no way helps to reinforce a positive body image or identity due to the unrealistic images put forth."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Slater, Amy; Tiggemann, Marika. "A Test of Objectification Theory in Adolescent Girls." Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. May 2002. p. 343.
• Dwyer, Victor. "Eye of the beholder: young women have self-image problems." Maclean's 106.n8 (Feb 22, 1993): 46(2). Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. Worcester Public Library. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com.ezwx.ez.cwmars.org:58000/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM>.
• Dittmar, Helga; Lloyd, Barbara; Dugan, Shaun; Halliwell, Emma; Jacobs, Neil; Cramer, Helen. "The "Body Beautiful": English Adolescents' Images of Ideal Bodies." Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. May 2000. p.887.
• Johnson, Carla K. "Self-image, weight gain linked in teenage girls: Girls who think they are not popular are more likely to gain, a study says." Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colorado) (Jan 8, 2008): NA. General OneFile. Gale. Worcester Public Library. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com.ezwx.ez.cwmars.org:58000/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF>.
• Hargreaves, Duane A.; Tiggemann, Marika. "Female "Thin Ideal" Media Images and Boys' Attitudes Toward Girls." Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. November 2003, v49 i9-10, p. 539.

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