FREE ESSAY ON FEMALE PERCEPTION

FEMALE PERCEPTION

The Media's Definition of Female Beauty
Advertisements are the most influential media in our world. They shape our ideas and
affect our look and behavior. People look at pictures and tend to mimic what they see.
Nowadays, advertisements depict women in a passive/submissive, almost childlike manner.
This implies that women are subdued, that they need to be controlled and dominated. Or
that they are not beautiful unless they resemble the models. In other words, fat, short,
stubby, too tall, too skinny, different ethnicity is not attractive.
Entering into adolescence can be one of the most stressful times in one's lifetime. This
is a time when they begin to discover who they are. They are becoming more independent
and are establishing friendships. Venturing into the teenage years can be a very
emotional, stressful, confusing time. By no means is it easier for males than females,
though females tend to be bombarded with "perfection imagery" more so than males. Some
make the change from childhood into adolescence with only a few minor problems, others
however, may have a more difficult time handling the pressures and some look to our
culture as an example. Many fear the weight that is gained during this time is permanent,
will panic, and desperately try to take the weight off. Our culture portrays this excess
weight as unattractive and in some cases, disgusting, leading to low self-esteem. They
are not aware that once the physical changes during this time cease, their weight will
usually stable off and will maintain their body's natural set point. Once they start
losing weight, they feel better, as if they are conforming to society's set pattern.
Complements and acceptance once not received can fuel the drive to look like the face in
the magazine.
Teenagers are under a lot of pressure to succeed and fit in. Many spend a lot of time
worrying about what others think and they desperately try to conform to society's
unattainable ideal body image. They are lead to believe that if they are thin, they will
be accepted. Since many teenagers are constantly buying teen or fashion magazines, the
images of emaciated models appearing in those magazines only reinforces their belief that
in order to be happy, successful and accepted, they must be thin. Television shows like
Beverly Hills 90210 also leads them to believe that they must be thin. They watch these
shows all the time and many will do anything to try and look like the actresses on these
shows. Many teenagers need a role model and someone to look up to. Unfortunately, too
many of them choose fashion models or actresses as their role models, they paste pictures
of them all over their rooms, and some will resort to dangerous methods of weight control
to try and look like their idols. Can we honestly keep telling ourselves that these young
women are not products of their environments? Our modern culture minimally addresses this
issue using the defense that "beauty sells." Once again we are faced with the paradox
that beauty is portrayed and perverted by modern media.
We need to teach our teenagers that the images they face everyday, whether it is in
television, film, or print are not the norm. If they are happy with themselves and love
who they are, they will be less likely to try and attain society's unattainable ideal
body image, because they will accept their bodies just the way they are.