BODY IMAGE

Danielle Mackey

Thesis
Stores, magazines and commercials falsely advertise tiny
female and muscular male models which manipulate ones
thoughts on true beauty.

Argument
Many places in the media, male and female models are displayed in
advertising a product.
In the majority of these advertisements
Women are small size 2 models
Men are muscular and buff models

Problem:
This is not reality because not everyone has this perfect look.
Many young individuals compare themselves to the media and to others
because they want to be attractive

In result:
People are dangerously trying to lose weight
Have developed unhealthy eating habits
Have become involved in drugs and other substances to try to lose weight.

Reality Statistics
Fashion models weigh 23 % less than the average female.
Average Model
511
110 pounds

Average Women
54
140

Young woman between the ages of 18 and 34 have a 7%

chance of being as thin as a catwalk model and a 1% chance
of being as thin as a supermodel

Early Age Problems

Body insecurities can begin at the age of 5
Examples:
Barbie Doll
G.I Jo

Opposing Views
"Skinniness is professionally necessary"
Fashion Industry is unconcerned with beauty
Their main focus is selling clothes and the believe in order for this to
happen, models need to be skinny

"Eating disorders are not on the rise"

200 American Women suffer from anorexia
39.4 Women suffer from obesity

Taking Action
There are some company's who are already taking action
Dove's campaign for Real Beauty features more realistic ads for
their products with images of women in more typical sizes and
shapes.
Aerie (American Eagle) has also made a small change in their ads
so that their ads have models that are more realistic as well

Conclusion
Although some company's are taking action already and there
may be more obesity than there is anorexia in the world, more
realistic models should be advertised with more positivity to
love the body that you have.

References
Bennett, J. (2012). The Fashion Industry Promotes Eating Disorders. In R. Espejo (Ed.), Eating
Disorders(Opposing Viewpoints). Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Retrieved April 21, 2015, from Opposing
Viewpoints in Context.
Body Image. (2015). In Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved April 21, 2015,
from Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Hilton, L. (2012). The Fashion Industry Should Not Be Held Responsible for Eating Disorders. In R. Espejo
(Ed.), Eating Disorders (Opposing Viewpoints). Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Retrieved April 21, 2015, from
Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Libal, A. (2006). Social discrimination and body size: Too big to fit? Philadephia, PA: Mason Crest.
Overweight High School Students. (2010). In Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved
April 21, 2015, from Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Positive and Negative Body Image | Improving Self Esteem. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/body-image
Smith, R. P. (2013). Self-image and eating disorders. New York: Rosen Pub.
What is Body Image? | National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-body-image