Sizing Up The Media: Sizing Up The Media: Decoding the MessagesDecoding the Messages

Presented by: Leta Marchand BSW, RSWPresented by: Leta Marchand BSW, RSW

Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa AssociationBulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association

Windsor, ONWindsor, ON

Statistics on Eating DisordersStatistics on Eating Disorders

1 in 5 women will suffer from an eating disorder1 in 5 women will suffer from an eating disorder Young men represent about 10% of individuals with Young men represent about 10% of individuals with

eating disorderseating disorders 70% of women and 35% of men are dieting at any 70% of women and 35% of men are dieting at any

given timegiven time 98% of all diets fail and not for lack of will- power98% of all diets fail and not for lack of will- power Canadian children in grades 3 & 4 say they’d rather Canadian children in grades 3 & 4 say they’d rather

lose a parent, get cancer or live through a nuclear war lose a parent, get cancer or live through a nuclear war than be fatthan be fat

In one study of 500 schoolgirls, 81% of 10 year olds In one study of 500 schoolgirls, 81% of 10 year olds reported they had dieted at least oncereported they had dieted at least once

Dying to Be Thin and Our Fear of Dying to Be Thin and Our Fear of FatFat

What stereotypes and thoughts surround the What stereotypes and thoughts surround the following words:following words:

THINTHIN FATFAT

Impact the media Impact the media has on all of us:has on all of us:

Average person sees 400-600 ads per day, that’s 50 Average person sees 400-600 ads per day, that’s 50 million ads by the age of 60 years. 1 out of 11 million ads by the age of 60 years. 1 out of 11 commercials has a direct message about beautycommercials has a direct message about beauty

1990’s showed that Americans spent $50 billion 1990’s showed that Americans spent $50 billion annually on diet products. This exceeds the annually on diet products. This exceeds the projections for the entire federal Education, projections for the entire federal Education, Training, Employment and Social Services budgets Training, Employment and Social Services budgets by five to ten billion dollars.by five to ten billion dollars.

Impact the media Impact the media has on all of us:has on all of us:

dieters reporting the cost to be $180 per pound." dieters reporting the cost to be $180 per pound." Fraser, L. (1997), Losing It: American’s Fraser, L. (1997), Losing It: American’s Obsession With Weight and the Industry That Obsession With Weight and the Industry That Feeds On it. New York: Dutton.Feeds On it. New York: Dutton.

Thinness not only represents attractiveness but Thinness not only represents attractiveness but also symbolizes success, self-control, and higher also symbolizes success, self-control, and higher SESSES

Plastic Surgery StatisticsPlastic Surgery Statistics

Nearly 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and Nearly 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2006United States in 2006

Since 1997 the overall number of cosmetic procedures Since 1997 the overall number of cosmetic procedures has increased 446 percenthas increased 446 percent

Breast Implants are up 18 percent from 2005Breast Implants are up 18 percent from 2005 Since 1997, surgical procedures increased 123 percent, Since 1997, surgical procedures increased 123 percent,

while nonsurgical procedures have increased 749 while nonsurgical procedures have increased 749 percentpercent

……..Continued..Continued

Americans spent just under $12.2 billion on Americans spent just under $12.2 billion on cosmetic procedures; $7.6 billion was for cosmetic procedures; $7.6 billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.5 billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.5 billion was for nonsurgical proceduresnonsurgical procedures

COURTESY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR COURTESY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY (ASAPS)AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY (ASAPS)

PORTION DISTORTION IN OUR PORTION DISTORTION IN OUR SOCIETYSOCIETY

Steve Erhardt

The obsession to become a real life Ken doll. Over 30 Plastic Surgery's!

Sarah Burge-”I'm the human Barbie doll”

This was actually her 26th operation. Before she decided she wasn't happy with her bum, this 46- year-old mother of three had 'corrected' almost every other part of her body.

Health-related costs of violence against women in Canada exceed $1.5 billion a year

Three basic techniques are used to establish Three basic techniques are used to establish superiority or power: size, attention and superiority or power: size, attention and positioning. People in charge of their own lives positioning. People in charge of their own lives typically stand up straight, alert and ready to typically stand up straight, alert and ready to meet the world. In contrast, the bending of the meet the world. In contrast, the bending of the body conveys unpreparedness and body conveys unpreparedness and submissiveness (Goffman, 1976)submissiveness (Goffman, 1976)

A Quote from GoffmanA Quote from Goffman

Activity: Critique the following images:

1

Question the motives of the advertisers and the fashion Question the motives of the advertisers and the fashion industry!industry! Advertising Standards CanadaAdvertising Standards Canada

350 Bloor St. E.350 Bloor St. E. Toronto, Ont. M4W 1H5Toronto, Ont. M4W 1H5 416-961-6311416-961-6311 Newspapers and MagazinesNewspapers and Magazines Publishers and Editors names listed in the masthead (first Publishers and Editors names listed in the masthead (first

few pages)few pages)

Media Advocacy Groups:Media Advocacy Groups: www.about-face.orgwww.about-face.org www.mediawatch.cawww.mediawatch.ca www.bana.cawww.bana.ca

5 Ways to LOVE your Body5 Ways to LOVE your Body

Stop criticizing yourself and holding yourself to Stop criticizing yourself and holding yourself to unrealistic ideals.unrealistic ideals.

Learn difference between what you can Learn difference between what you can change and what you must learn to accept.change and what you must learn to accept.

Throw away the scales.Throw away the scales. Fight back against socially defined ideals.Fight back against socially defined ideals. Practice self-acceptance through self-talk.Practice self-acceptance through self-talk.