The prevalence of psychological disorders is on the rise. One of the main contributors to these disorders is the thought processes of the patients. Many studies have been done to research the effect of media on people who are predisposed to psychological disorders. How does advertising and popular media affect these thought processes?
Out of all psychological disorders, eating disorders are one of the most dangerous. Anorexia and bulimia have high relapse rates and often lead to death. According to multiple authors, “There is considerable evidence that exposure to attractive, thin female models increases depression, guilt, shame, stress, anger, and body dissatisfaction in women at risk for eating disorders” (as cited by Fister & Smith, 2004, p. 394). Are the images portrayed in media partially responsible?
Recently, one 14 year old, Julia Bluhm, voiced her opinion on the appearance of women in magazines. She started by creating a petition asking Seventeen magazine to present women in a more realistic manner. Over 84,000 people signed and supported her cause.
In response to the petition, Seventeen has agreed and created a Body Peace Treaty. The treaty involves simple things that promote a healthy self-esteem and has been signed by 87,743 members. In July, Bluhm told her supporters:
Seventeen listened! They're saying they won't use photoshop to digitally alter their models! This is a huge victory, and I'm so unbelievably happy. Another petition is being started by SPARK activists Emma and Carina, targeting Teen Vogue and I will sign it. If we can be heard by one magazine, we can do it with another. We are sparking a change! (Bluhm, 2012, para. 2)
Will this new petition in place targeting Teen Vogue be equally successful?
If our magazines, our advertising, our marketing began to adopt this ideology, what would that mean for women at-risk for anorexia and bulimia? Would the prevalence of these disorders decrease? But perhaps this is just another example of the “can do” girl: “…the self-branded girl [that] is encouraged to be self-reliant and empowered, especially within a consumer context” (Banet-Weiser, n.d., p. 283).
References
Banet-Weiser. (n.d.) Branding the post-feminist self: Girls’ video production and YouTube. In M. C. Kearney (Ed.), Mediated girlhoods: New explorations of girls’ media culture (pp. 277-295). New York: Peter Lang.
Bluhm, J. (2012). Seventeen magazine: Give girls images of real girls! Retrieved from http://www.change.org/petitions/seventeen-magazine-give-girls-images-of-real-girls
Fister, S. M., & Smith, G. T. (2004). Media Effects on Expectancies: Exposure to Realistic Female Images as a Protective Factor. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 18(4), 394-397. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.18.4.394
I'm so encouraged by the desire to understand the beauty of reality rather than a manufactured impossible standard. This is a nice example of current trends related to online identity.
ReplyDeleteI wish this was for all types of media. This follows us everywhere! They even sell airbrushing equipment for putting on make-up so you can get that magazine look in person.
ReplyDelete