GenderGender Expectations inExpectations in

thethe MediaMedia

MagazinesMagazines

The InternetThe Internet

MoviesMovies

TV/CommercialsTV/Commercials

The The Media’sMedia’s “Ideal” Body Image “Ideal” Body Image

Many media outlets such as Many media outlets such as magazines portray many false magazines portray many false imagesimages

The media fosters images that are The media fosters images that are warped with make up, are warped with make up, are airbrushed, and are digitally airbrushed, and are digitally enhanced with Photoshopenhanced with Photoshop

This perfect image influences many This perfect image influences many people into aspiring to match the people into aspiring to match the media’s images and attain perfection media’s images and attain perfection themselvesthemselves

Recently, a magazine interviewed a number of Recently, a magazine interviewed a number of surgeons to see what the top look alike surgeons to see what the top look alike

surgeries performed in their offices were. The surgeries performed in their offices were. The results were: results were:

Katie Holmes’ eyesKatie Holmes’ eyes Katherine Heigl’s noseKatherine Heigl’s nose Keira Knightley’s cheeksKeira Knightley’s cheeks Jessica Simpson’s hairJessica Simpson’s hair Angelina Jolie’s lipsAngelina Jolie’s lips

This is the world’s view of the This is the world’s view of the perfect image:perfect image:

The price to obtain that face would consist The price to obtain that face would consist of the following procedures and prices:of the following procedures and prices:

Eyelift: $4000 - $7000Eyelift: $4000 - $7000 Nose augmentation: $3000 - $8000Nose augmentation: $3000 - $8000 Face lift: $5000 - $6000Face lift: $5000 - $6000 Botox: $250 x 5 - $1000 x 12Botox: $250 x 5 - $1000 x 12 Hair extensions - $20 - $3500Hair extensions - $20 - $3500

Minimum price: $13,520Minimum price: $13,520 Maximum price: $37,500Maximum price: $37,500

Why is this unrealistic price and Why is this unrealistic price and image our idea of beauty?image our idea of beauty?

What it takes to be a What it takes to be a fashion-modelfashion-model

The woman on the left weighs The woman on the left weighs approximately 98 pounds, is 5’6, and approximately 98 pounds, is 5’6, and is sixteen years old. The woman on is sixteen years old. The woman on the right weighs a healthy 145 the right weighs a healthy 145 pounds.pounds.

According to a modeling company in According to a modeling company in the United States you must be 15-22 the United States you must be 15-22 years old (the younger the better), be years old (the younger the better), be a minimum of 5’8” and anywhere a minimum of 5’8” and anywhere from 108-125 pounds.from 108-125 pounds.

According to Health Canada the ideal According to Health Canada the ideal weight for this woman is 140 pounds, weight for this woman is 140 pounds, a figure a modeling agency would a figure a modeling agency would never take into account.never take into account.

The images that are put into our The images that are put into our minds and children’s minds are in the minds and children’s minds are in the end, harmful. This is a main reason end, harmful. This is a main reason for anorexia and bulimia.for anorexia and bulimia.

magazinesmagazineswithinwithin

imagesimagesGenderGender

The Online The Online MediaMedia

Television/Commercials/Billboards Television/Commercials/Billboards

Exploring the popular Exploring the popular BarbieBarbie advertisements: advertisements: The figurines are showing kids what appears The figurines are showing kids what appears

to be “beautiful” and “handsome”, but in to be “beautiful” and “handsome”, but in reality an image that is unrealisticreality an image that is unrealistic

As a result, girls are beginning to wear make As a result, girls are beginning to wear make up at younger and younger ages, while boys up at younger and younger ages, while boys are starting to work out at younger ages.are starting to work out at younger ages.

The image: the six pack, blonde hair, blue The image: the six pack, blonde hair, blue eyes, big breasts, small waists, and big pecks eyes, big breasts, small waists, and big pecks are encouraging children to want to be more are encouraging children to want to be more like that and implementing a false depiction like that and implementing a false depiction of success.of success.

Overall, this is very unhealthy for young kids Overall, this is very unhealthy for young kids whose morals, ideas, and self-esteems are whose morals, ideas, and self-esteems are not yet concrete. In today’s society, the not yet concrete. In today’s society, the mediamedia is now pouring the foundation for is now pouring the foundation for them.them.

The The RealityReality:: Too many young women aspiring to today’s ultra-Too many young women aspiring to today’s ultra-

thin look literally thin look literally starvestarve themselves themselves

Many men and women are over-exercising or Many men and women are over-exercising or risking damage to their bodies with risking damage to their bodies with steroidssteroids

Plastic surgery and implants have their own health Plastic surgery and implants have their own health risksrisks

The price of trying to achieve the “perfect” look The price of trying to achieve the “perfect” look may include an eating disorder such asmay include an eating disorder such as anorexia, anorexia, bulimiabulimia, or, or compulsive overeating compulsive overeating due to the due to the extreme efforts required to maintain this ideal look extreme efforts required to maintain this ideal look over timeover time

What can What can teachersteachers do? do? Being teachers we play a very important Being teachers we play a very important

role on influencing children’s lives and role on influencing children’s lives and the way they learn and interpret the the way they learn and interpret the world.world.

We need to help children recognize their We need to help children recognize their uniqueness.uniqueness.

To do this, get each student to do an To do this, get each student to do an activity each month that is primarily activity each month that is primarily about themselvesabout themselves

An example of an activity is to get the An example of an activity is to get the students to make a magazine that shows students to make a magazine that shows and explains who they are and what they and explains who they are and what they value about themselvesvalue about themselves

As teachers,As teachers, we can impact students and we can impact students and potentially change their views on “a perfect world”, potentially change their views on “a perfect world”,

which could lead to their acceptance of their which could lead to their acceptance of their bodies and their image.bodies and their image.