Women and Body Image

by: Jenilee De La Fuente&

Michelle Corral

Throughout the history of body image…

Late 1800s & Early 20th

Century

•Large body = healthy and fertile•Lillian Russell: famous stage Actress known lauded for her beauty•1920s: evolved beauty image as flat chested, flapper girls•1950s & 1960s: full figured women popularized; ex: Marilyn Monroe•1970s & 1980s: tall, thin, and toned muscles•1990s: waif-like, tall, and thin; large breasts are desirable.

Cont..

Statistics: The media vs. real women

• The average US resident is exposed to approximately 5,000 advertising messages/day.

• More exposure to media lower self-esteem is• The average North American woman is 5’4 and 140 lbs.

• The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117

pounds. • At age thirteen, 53% of American girls are “unhappy with

their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.

• Nearly 11.7 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2007. Women had nearly 10.6 million cosmetic procedures, 91% percent of the total.

• From 1920-1990s: most Miss American contestants had around 26 inch waists to currently, around 24 inches or under.

Beauty & Body Image in the Media

• Women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids– It is estimated that the

diet industry alone is worth anywhere from 40 to 100 billion dollars

• Research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.

• The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that 1 out of every 4 college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control- including fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative abuse, and self-induced vomiting

Air Brushed Image

Process of Photoshop and Body Doubles•About 99.9% of images in magazines are estimated to be photoshopped.

•Used to correct minor and major imperfections such as bags, sun spots, cellulite, and extra fat

•They use photoshop to put someone’s head on someone else’s body as a means to create the illusion that the body is theirs (body doubles).

Why is thin in?

• Publishers depict tall, thin models because they sell more magazine.

• current ideal body shape: bizarre combination of male desire and waifish androgyny; thin, no hips, big bust.

• It is all about money!; media tries to make women buy products to make them feel better about themselves.

Different Races and Body Image Issues

• A comparison was made between African American women and Caucasian women and the way they perceive their body image

• It was predicted that African American women will report higher levels of self esteem and a more positive body image than Caucasian women and their predictions were supported.

• It was also predicted and reported that African American women are possessing more masculine traits and that men of their race tend less to prefer thin, small figured women.

• Women partially base their judgments of their bodies on what men of their race desire– Since African American women

believe that African American males prefer larger women, they have less need to lose weight and therefore, feel more attractive.

• White women, however, believe that white men prefer ultra-thin women.

A Body Image Revolution…

Imagine a world where beauty Is a source of confidence, not anxiety. -Dove campaign

Seventeen Magazine body Peace Treaty

A new era for body image?

• Feel good about yourself.

• No one looks naturally perfect.

• Eat healthy• Exercise regularly• YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE..TELL IT TO YOURSELF EVERYDAY IN THE MIRROR.