The purpose of this paper is to examine and criticize the representation of female body image by mass media. For decades the bodies of women have been tailored to highlight products and services by advertisers and owners of the media as a means of generating capital gains. This tailoring, has led to what many have come to accept as the ‘ideal image of beauty’ that every woman should endeavor to achieve. This paper continues the discussion on a topic that is widely and frequently discussed.
The theoretical framework that this paper employs is based on one of the most applauded theory in communication studies; The Political Economy of Communication and Media theory, which was first coined by Dallas William Smythe. This theory is pertinent to understand the presence of the commercial forces behind creating and maintaining this ideal body image, particularly by advertisers in mass media. The form of mass media that this paper concentrates on is women’s magazine, with specific focus on advertisements regarding beauty and cosmetic products/services. Additionally, case studies in the US and China are used to depict the influence mass media representation of female body image on women.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Literature Review
4. Methodology
5. Discussion/Conclusion
6. References
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to critically analyze how mass media, particularly women's magazines, represents the female body to serve commercial interests and reinforce specific beauty standards. The research examines the psychological impact of these representations on women and how they contribute to body dissatisfaction and the pursuit of cosmetic interventions.
- Political economy of communication and the audience commodity theory
- The normalization of unrealistic beauty standards in advertising
- Psychological effects of exposure to idealized, airbrushed media images
- The intersection of capitalism, the diet industry, and cosmetic surgery
- Cross-cultural case studies on body image influences in the US and China
Excerpt from the Book
The ‘Ideal’ Body Image: Thin is Beautiful
No woman wakes up feeling unhappy about her body unless she was influenced by something or someone. One of the prominent ideal standards of beauty as highlighted in magazines is that thin is beautiful. Unattainable as this standard is given the fact that “few women possess the genetics to naturally produce the ultra long, thin body type so widely promoted” (Brown University Health Promotion, 2014) women continue to fall victims of the industry beauty standards. In the United States of America girls as young as five years old have succumb to the ideal beauty standards and are already dieting to be thin. Research has showed that 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade feel the urge to lose weight because of the images they have seen in magazines.
Similarly 69% of them said that they saw in magazines what they believe is the perfect body image (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2014). Dieting is not unique to young girls, women of all ages who are dissatisfied with their bodies use dieting in an effort to get the universally accepted body image. In a survey conducted 91% of the participants tried dieting to control their weight with 22% engaged in constant dieting (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2014). In the United States of America, the diet industry is nothing shy of $20 billion in annual revenue. This includes diet books, diet drugs and weight-loss surgeries. 85% of consumers who use weight-loss products and services are women (ABC news staff, 2012).
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides an overview of the paper's critique of female body image representation in mass media, utilizing Dallas Smythe's political economy theory.
Introduction: Explores the personal and societal motivations behind researching media influence, emphasizing the standardization of body images in advertising.
Literature Review: Analyzes the advertising industry's role in shaping beauty standards and the economic motivations behind the commodification of the female body.
Methodology: Details the qualitative research approach, including the use of Internet-based research and case studies to gather data on media influence.
Discussion/Conclusion: Synthesizes findings on how capitalist market forces drive body dissatisfaction and calls for a critical understanding of media representations.
References: Lists the academic and secondary sources used to support the analysis of political economy and media representation.
Keywords
Body image, political economy of media, audience commodity, mass media, advertising, beauty standards, capitalism, cosmetic surgery, thinness, diet industry, media representation, consumerism, eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, social psychology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper examines and critiques the representation of the female body in mass media, specifically focusing on how magazines and advertisers promote idealized beauty standards to generate profit.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the political economy of communication, the commodification of the female audience, the psychological impact of unrealistic media images, and the global influence of western beauty ideals.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to understand how commercial economic forces utilize standardized, unattainable body images in advertisements to influence women's perception of their own bodies and stimulate consumption.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this study?
The study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing internet-based research, literature reviews, and case study analysis to examine current findings regarding media impact on body image.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the relationship between advertisers and media, the Political Economy of Communication theory, the obsession with thinness, the role of cosmetic surgery, and cross-cultural comparisons in the US and China.
Which key terms characterize this research?
Key terms include "audience commodity," "political economy," "body image," "standardization," and "media representation."
How does the "audience commodity" theory relate to female body image?
The theory suggests that media outlets do not just sell products, but sell the audience to advertisers. Therefore, media creates "ideal" beauty standards to ensure women feel dissatisfied enough to purchase products from the diet and cosmetic industries.
What specific role does the cosmetic industry play in this context?
The cosmetic industry profits from the insecurities created by magazine media; as women attempt to emulate the airbrushed images they see, they turn to cosmetic surgery to physically alter their features to match these ideals.
How does the situation in China compare to the US?
Similar to the US, China is experiencing a beauty craze driven by the introduction of capitalist values and western media, leading many Chinese women to seek surgery to appear more "western" or "European."
What conclusion does the author reach regarding media literacy?
The author concludes that it is critical for women to develop a critical understanding of the commodification intentions behind media images to empower themselves and love their natural bodies.
- Citar trabajo
- Master of Arts Asheida Charles (Autor), 2014, A Critical Analysis of the Representation of Female Body Image in Women Magazines, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313606
