The Subjectivity of Women to Modern Mass Media’s...

Mary-Cate Grimes Diller ENG 102 Spring 2013 Research Argument Rough Draft The Subjectivity of Women to Modern Mass Media’s Construed Views of Beauty and How Their Effects on Body Image According to Medline Plus’s medical dictionary, a portion of the National Institute of Health’s website for patients and their families and friends, â€Å"body image† is defined as â€Å"a subjective picture of one s own physical appearance established both by self-observation and by noting the reactions of others.† From the start, it is made obvious by such a definition that any person’s self-body image is sculptured partly by others’ opinions and societal context. This, in turn, supports that this is the basis for the majority of mass media’s success; they†¦show more content†¦Despite the differing circumstances of these earlier time periods, the same unrealistic bodily ideals that society expected of women then still exist today. Mass media emits mixed signals as to what’s â€Å"hot† and whatâ €™s â€Å"not† with every advertisement they publicize. On one hand, companies advertise emaciated supermodels through television, magazine advertisements, and the like, who are idolized simply because they are skinny, as skinny has developed into one end of the â€Å"hot† spectrum of modern-day America. There is a catch, however. More and more supermodels, like those who model for Victoria’s Secret for example, have thin bodies, muscle tone, and larger chests. Many women have the tendency to idolize this figure and believe this is the way they should want to look in order to be considered â€Å"sexy.† Even the Barbie doll, for example, has unrealistic proportions that are simply physiologically impossible for any woman to have. These ideals are far too irrational for any woman to reach. On the other hand, more and more companies are making claims that larger, plus-size women should also be viewed as â€Å"beautiful† or â€Å"sexy,† in a ttempts to make those who are larger than â€Å"normal† feel more comfortable in their own skins. Given these mixed images, women are faced with unrealistic expectations every time they crack open a