How does the media effect americans and especially teens today on their self image and esteem?

Question

can this be a long kind of answer i really need help on this topic thanks guys and girls

Answer 1

Well i'm going to focus on media and the obsession with being skinny....In alot of magazines, on television, and EVERYWHERE else you see underweight people and it's considered "beautiful"??! (only in america lol) But anyways, Teens and adults see this and want to be like this "perfect" image that they see....They go on CRaZy diets, starve themselves and have low self-esteem because of the media in America! What happened?? If you look at any old art work and you see "Healthy", beautiful, women but things have changed for the worse! I will NEVER conform!

Answer 2

Well I'm fifteen so basically I would say I know a thing or two about self image and esteem portrayed through the media.

Today alot of the self image shows young girls that THIN is in. Now I whom is very petite but I'm healthy and I don't wish to be stick skinny think that to some girls it really hurts. I have friends who don't eat at all because they think they'll get fat or want to look like Paris or Nicole and all the other thin girls shown on t.v. It also shows that partying and clubbing is the way of living every time you look through a magazine all you see is -Lindsay Lohan in the new hit club ...- So most girls think that's what they should do when they get older. The media can make your self esteem level so low. Showing what's the new it trend or thing to be wearing though I must admit I myself get sucked into this whole thing because I always stay on top of trends even though your self image should be based on who you are as an individual. It makes it hard and sets the standard high for young teenage girls.

As for guys I think that it relates to sex and drugs. That treating women with disrespect and using them for sex is the way to show that your "cool."

Answer 3

Media→ I would rank media as a 3. Even though we're constantly living up to the expectations on what is considered 'pretty' and 'hot' and such things like that, it honestly doesn't affect me too much. I try to ignore things like that as much as possible- If I DID pay attention to it, I think it would affect me a lot more. Parents→ I would rank my parents as a 1. They always tell me that I'm beautiful, smart, perfect; you know- the works. They increase my self esteem, if anything. Siblings→ Maybe a 4. It's normal for siblings to fight & say bad things about each other, and that lowers my self esteem. Besides, if you have having siblings, It's normal to get compared to them. Opposite Sex→ Probably a 2. I ignore the comments I get from them if they're mean, but sometimes they get to ya. Friends→ A definite 6. My friends always put me down. Teachers→ I would say a 1. They don't increase or decrease my self esteem.

Answer 4

It doesn't.
You sit there and see a skinny girl or muscular guy, thinking, hey, I want that body.
But then you get to school.
And see your friends.
And remember that they don't give a **** what you look like.
Because they love you anyway.