Has it ever occurred to you that daily tasks such as; flipping open a magazine, turning on the television, listening to the radio or even playing with your favorite toy is influencing society tremendously? According to http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/10/27/media-can-damage-self-image/362.html "Women who already have low opinions of their physical appearance are at an even greater risk for negative effects from media images, " says Gayle R. Bessenoff, Ph.D. That being said, we need to draw attention to this issue. The media plays a significant role in society leading to physical and psychological issues.
The media has come across influencing societies self image into two key factors. According to The National Eating Disorders Associating, "Eating disorders are complex conditions that can arise from a variety of potential causes. Once started, however, they can create a self-perpetuating cycle of physical and emotional destruction." The media defines a specified appearance for the society to follow which disturbs a person psychologically. People are often diagnosed with issues interrupting their self-esteem, anxiety, depression, suicide and developing eating disorders. Another way a person is affected by the media is physical habits including: bulimia, anorexia, excessive exercising, binging, laxatives and steroids. The examples listed are horrific for your body that most times the patient is opted to seek treatment. .
With that being said, where did the media begin affecting society? This information was found from Teen Health and the Media, A study on fifth graders, 10-year-old girls and boys told researchers that they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show "Friends. " The media marks target for children's toys such as princesses or super heroes. I don't ever recall seeing an ugly princess or a super hero with no strength.