According to Webster’s Dictionary, media is “a medium of cultivation,
conveyance, or expression”1. It contains newspapers, magazines, television, radio,
the internet, video games, and much more. Undoubtedly, not only men but also
women appear in media. Along with it, women are bombarded by lots of media
pictures every day, nowadays. Those pictures present women who are beautiful
only if they are slim, pretty, and culturally accepted.
In the opinion of the viewers, television is supposed to be the medium that
is most “real”. In that case, one has to question the correctness of the images of
women on television and how this affects the attitudes of the viewers.
Advertisements are probably the most influential products on television. Here,
women are mainly pictured as a housewife who is married, with children, and
who is obsessed with cleanliness or as a sex object who is tall, with long legs,
wonderful teeth, hair, and skin. Similarly, the image of women as sex objects can
be found in other media such as magazines, music clips, or video games. One can
find many examples for each. Thus, Britany Spears hardly wears any clothes in
her music videos and men who are shown in the background of music clips are
fully clothed while women in the same position are close to be naked2. If you have
look at computer games you won`t find many women in it but if so they are very
much sexualized – “wearing tight revealing clothes and having unrealistically
large breasts, and distorted small waists”3 - such as Lara Croft.
This paper will deal with those images of women and consequently the
effects of them. Concerning the effects this work will concentrate on the
increasing prevalence of plastic surgery, especially among teenagers, eating
disorders, and low self-esteem nowadays.
1 Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (1997), 10th edition. Springfield.
2 What’s the problem? Facts about girls, women and media, No name. No date. 3 pages. Online.
Internet. April 25, 2004. Available: URL:http://www.mediaandwomen.org/problem.html p. 1-2.
3 Ibid., p.2.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Portrayal of Women in the Media
- 2.1 The Image of Women in Television Advertisements
- 2.1 The Image of Women in Magazines
- 3. Low Self-esteem Caused by the Depiction of Women in Media?
- 3.1 Eating Disorders
- 3.2 Cosmetic Plastic Surgeries
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Resources
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the portrayal of women in media and its impact. It aims to analyze how women are represented in various media forms, focusing on television advertisements and magazines. The paper will explore the potential link between these portrayals and the rise in eating disorders, cosmetic plastic surgeries, and low self-esteem among women.
- The portrayal of women in television advertisements and magazines.
- Stereotypical representations of women in media.
- The impact of media portrayals on women's self-esteem.
- The connection between media images and eating disorders.
- The link between media images and the increasing prevalence of cosmetic plastic surgery.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter defines media and its pervasive presence in daily life. It highlights the constant bombardment of media images, particularly those depicting women, and questions the accuracy and impact of these images on viewers' attitudes. The chapter sets the stage for exploring how the portrayal of women in media might affect self-esteem, eating disorders, and the rise of cosmetic surgery.
2. The Portrayal of Women in the Media: This chapter delves into the visual nature of modern media and its influence on our perceptions. It argues that media, especially advertisements, shapes our desires and influences our purchasing decisions, acting as a mirror and guideline for societal expectations. The chapter specifically addresses how media dictates the expected behavior and appearance of women for societal acceptance.
2.1 The Image of Women in Television Advertisements: This section analyzes the often-unnoticed stereotypical portrayal of women in television advertisements. It highlights how women are frequently reduced to limited roles, such as housewives or sex objects, and discusses the lack of representation that reflects a more diverse reality. The chapter uses examples and scholarly opinions to demonstrate the pervasiveness of these stereotypical portrayals and their potentially harmful implications.
3. Low Self-esteem Caused by the Depiction of Women in Media?: This chapter explores the potential consequences of the media's portrayal of women, focusing on the link between these portrayals and the increasing rates of low self-esteem, eating disorders, and cosmetic plastic surgeries. The chapter sets the foundation for investigating the causal relationship between media representation and these societal issues.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Media portrayal of women, gender stereotypes, television advertisements, magazines, self-esteem, eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, body image, societal expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions: Media Portrayal of Women and its Impact
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper examines the portrayal of women in media and its potential impact on self-esteem, eating disorders, and cosmetic surgery. It focuses on the representations of women in television advertisements and magazines.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the portrayal of women in television advertisements and magazines, stereotypical representations of women in media, the impact of media portrayals on women's self-esteem, the connection between media images and eating disorders, and the link between media images and the increasing prevalence of cosmetic plastic surgery.
What specific media are analyzed in the paper?
The paper specifically analyzes the portrayal of women in television advertisements and magazines.
What are the potential consequences of the media's portrayal of women, according to the paper?
The paper explores the potential link between the media's portrayal of women and the increasing rates of low self-esteem, eating disorders, and cosmetic plastic surgeries.
How does the paper approach the relationship between media portrayal and negative consequences?
The paper investigates the potential causal relationship between media representation of women and societal issues like low self-esteem, eating disorders, and cosmetic surgery.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, a chapter analyzing the portrayal of women in media (including subsections on television advertisements and magazines), a chapter exploring the potential consequences of this portrayal, a conclusion, and a resources section.
What are some examples of the stereotypical portrayals discussed?
The paper discusses how women are frequently reduced to limited roles, such as housewives or sex objects, in television advertisements, and lacks representation reflecting a more diverse reality.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Media portrayal of women, gender stereotypes, television advertisements, magazines, self-esteem, eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, body image, societal expectations.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The paper aims to analyze how women are represented in various media forms and explore the potential link between these portrayals and the rise in eating disorders, cosmetic plastic surgeries, and low self-esteem among women.
- Quote paper
- Linda Dittmann (Author), 2004, Depictions of Women in Media, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/27463
