Glamour And Self Perception In The Media

By Erika Chloe

Unrealistic images of the female body are used to promote the sale of many products and services. While the rest of the world seems to age, the female figures promoting such products, somehow age in reverse by growing younger, taller, and slimmer.

Many recognized actresses are notorious for dipping in to the fountain of youth with the help of expensive plastic surgery or simply starving their body with fad liquid diets. Magazines, websites, and commercials are used to promote weight loss products, insisting that losing excess weight will make your life flawless. Research indicates that the diet industry alone is worth anywhere from 40 - 100 billion U.S dollars.

Women are sure to develop depression and body image issues with the elaborate exposure of thin, young, and airbrushed women. College women and grown adults are both affected by the pressure to be thin. How many times have you convinced yourself to diet or fast?

The ideal beautiful woman is not airbrushed in real life so why is the media compelled to impose such images as the standard for average women? The average woman doesn't wear a size 2 and she doesnt have flawless skin as media publications may suggest. They are naturally different in size, shape and age!

Many diet and cosmetic companies depend on providing unrealistic ideals to consumers in order to ensure their corporate growth and financial gains. The media intentionally publicizes young skinny girls as a prerequisite to being beautiful. This how they convince you to buy their products.

While many companies promote products with Barbie doll-like women, there are in fact companies that promote the average and natural women. Lane Bryant, a plus size retail store eventually traded their size 6 mannequins in for size 12. After receiving various complaints from their customers they agreed that a size 6 mannequin advertising plus size womens clothing was unrealistic. Dove, owned by Unilever, began casting healthy average women to sell their products on television. While their commercials appealed to many women, Dove received a lot of criticism from the media. People did not know how to respond after being exposed to airbrushed young models for years. Could it be that women expect young and skinny girls to promote their products? Would women buy a wrinkle cream advertised by middle-aged women with wrinkles?

Ladies, the bottom line is Love the skin youre in! Ignore the messages about diet and thinness that barrage beauty by telling you that you are in need of constant adjustment.

You are perfect t the way you are. The female body is not an object to be perfected. Everyone reserves the right to be beautiful and youthful regardless of age, shape or size. You are born with beauty and there are many ways to celebrate that beauty in healthy and constructive ways! - 30291

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