persuasive speech: media influence on body image

How the Media Affects Body Image

By Gabby Hayes

“Fat and Unwanted”

“Powerless”

“Hideous”

“I wish I looked like that.”

“I'm too skinny.”

“Meaty”

“Short”

Is it logical to base your feeling of self-worth and self-image on the models in ads and

magazines?

Are the models we see in magazines really people to look up to in terms of body image?

NO

Audience Statistics

78% said they have experienced personal body image issues at some point in their lives.

64% said they don't feel like they can relate physically to models of their gender in magazines or ads.

Examples

It isn't just the women!

What can we do?

Sign or Start A Petition

Websites like Change.org are great for bringing attention to problems.

Many companies take into great consideration the opinions of their target audiences.

Support Companies that Push for Positive Body Image

Aerie's AerieREAL Campaign

Dove's Real Beauty Campaign

Look into Body Positive Sources of Entertainment

Tavi Gevinson's ROOKIEMAG

Photographers LOVE Diversity!

Nir Arieli's “Inframen”

Collection of Infrared photos of male dancers

Infrared brings out the “imperfections” caused by years of their craft.

Leland Bobbé's “Quintessential Americans”

Photographs of people he found interesting in his travels to America.

Realize that Nobody Has a “Perfect Body”

Not even our modern “beauty icons.”

Don't obsess over being a certain size.

Don't feel obligated to lose weight just because magazines say they can show you how.

Works Cited

"40 Amazing Before and After  Photo Retouching  Photos | 10Steps.SG."  10StepsSG. N.p., 2010. Web. 07 Apr.

2014. <http://10steps.sg/inspirations/artworks/40-cool-before-and-after-photo-retouching-photos/>.

"#aerieREAL."  Aerie for American Eagle. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.ae.com/aerie/guides/aeriereal.jsp?catId=cat6890055>.

Bahadur, Nina. "Male Eating Disorders Are One 'Men's Issue' We Don't Discuss Enough (VIDEO)."  The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 July 2013. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/male-eating-disorders-the-stream_n_3635570.html>.

Brooks, Katherine. "Photographer Travels The Country Documenting 'Quintessential Americans'"  The Huffington

Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 03 Jan. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. <

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/americana-photos_n_4531600.html?utm_hp_ref=photography>.

Frank, Priscilla. "10 Stunning Black-And-White Photos That Challenge Norms Of Masculinity."  The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Jan. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/nir-arieli_n_4550685.html?utm_hp_ref=photography>.

Rookie. Rookie, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014. <http://www.rookiemag.com/>.

"The Dove® Campaign for  Real Beauty."  The Dove® Campaign for Real Beauty. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr.

2014. <http://www.dove.us/Social-Mission/campaign-for-real-beauty.as <http://www.dove.us/Social-

Mission/campaign-for-real-beauty.aspx>.

Wade, Lisa. "You'd Be Shocked at What These Fashion Editors Are Editing Out of Their Photos."  The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Jan. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-wade/youd-be-shocked-at-what-these-fashion-editors-are-editing-

out-of-their-photos_b_4542067.html>.