I don’t know about you guys, but personally I find it extremely ironic that in flipping through the pages of one magazine I’m bombarded with articles about body positivity and self confidence, whilst in another I’m informed on how to achieve the “Perfect Body” or encouraged to read yet another celebrity “Body- Bounce Back Diet”. It seems that I JUST CAN’T WIN…and the media is loving it (*maccas jingle* dada da da da). But why is it that the media keeps us; as consumers precariously balanced on a tightrope when it comes to body image and what constitutes the “perfect” body?
Well to quote Marilyn Manson…“It’s a campaign of fear and consumption…keep everyone afraid and they’ll consume” and this I think is at the heart of why the media promotes what always seems to be just out of our reach… THE PERFECT LOOK. I’d like to pose the question of what this “fear” actually is? This fear that keeps us wanting to trim those extra pounds, or skip that meal even when it has potentially detrimental effects upon our health? I mean as long as we’re healthy does that extra bit of tummy flab or our absence of a sizeable thigh gap really matter?
I think this innate “fear” that drives people in society, (myself included) to consume is something central to our very human nature: Wanting to be Wanted, an intrinsic need to belong (#belonging HSC mems). Whilst body image does impact upon both men and women, it’s effects are more predominant among females, particularly impressionable teenagers.In my opinion in our society and the media there has been an unhealthy link created between body image and this notion of being wanted. A simple google search reveals various internet articles detailing what men consider to be attractive qualities in a woman.It was whilst undertaking this search that I came across this blog post which sums up perfectly the unattainable standards that are placed upon women in order to be more ‘desirable’ and ‘wanted’ by the opposite sex.
We are constantly told by the media that we don’t look good enough, or that we can improve ourselves in order to be considered more “attractive”. The objective? For us to consume. Think of it this way; if we were told consistently that our complexion was flawless, our lips full and plump, our eyebrows on point and our eyelashes long and perfectly curled, then the multi-million dollar makeup industries who prey on these image insecurities, would be in a bigger mess than non-waterproof mascara after a good ol’ PMS cry. What’s sneaky about media is that it doesn’t necessarily explicitly say “YOU’RE TOO FAT” in an attractive bolded headline, instead it’s subtly implied through a more suggestive “TEN WAYS TO A SKINNIER YOU’ accompanied by a bikini shot of your favourite celebrity who you guessed it, is stick thin.
This leads us in a messed up “inception-like” way to perceive ourselves as fat, even when we are perfectly healthy because hey, I’m not as thin as (insert famous photo-shopped celebrity here) so therefore they’re right I must be fat.But what is often overlooked when it comes to the perception of body image in the media is the fact that often the ideal image is created. Just one example of this was when British GQ magazine slimmed down a shot of Kate Winslett (image below) but failed to adjust the mirror image as well, alerting people to the photo-shop culture that prevails within the media.
But should the blame for body-image insecurity rest entirely with the media? Of course not. There are a multitude of factors in play that contribute to the relentless pursuit of the perfect body. However, what is clear that the media is a fundamental influence on the way in which we perceive our bodies and our looks. There is a quote by Steve Furtick which I try to live by and I think resonates particularly in regards to this issue;
‘The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.’
So at the risk of sounding extremely cheesy, it’s important that we love ourselves and not try to attain unachievable standards that the media and society itself place upon us. So essentially… rock them curves and enjoy that extra cheesy slice of pizza, I know I will. 😀
Do you agree/disagree with me? Feel free to express thy opinions in the comments.
-Lizzellbee 🙂
Lizzellbee 