What is it like, as a woman, to see how the media portrays the ideal woman?

Question

I'd really like to hear how it feels for you women and the ways in which it influences you. As much as you can say is welcome. Thank you.

Answer 1

I think a lot of it's demeaning. They show super skinny models/actresses, instead of every day women, then wonder why so many of us have some type of eating disorders.
The music is patronizing, calling us b***hes and wh***s, or 'stupid' in every other line. That we should be grateful that any attention is bestowed on us by "superior" men, even if it's only for the sex.
It doesn't influence me much, except when I'm compared to the uber-skinny peoples, but then I just ignore them. As already commented above, it's only when all the stores seem to think we should all be size -3 or so.

Answer 2

It's confusing, I have the thin, size 0 type body that has supposedly been so desired by women. But I find myself envying the curvier women men keep saying they find more attractive. The whole "real women have curves thing" The tide is changing and you can't weigh less than 125 lbs without being accused of having an eating disorder. Maybe it's just cuz I'm skinny, but I see the media attacking skinny women more and more. I'm not denying the problem of eating disorder and women giving into them, but the media is really playing it up, convincing people that Nicole Richie is what a size 0 looks like. It's obvious when someone is naturally thin and others are starving themselves to an unnatural size, but skinny women as a whole are being demonized. I think we're just gonna exchange one extreme for the other. Telling skinny women they are ugly and look like 12 year old boys only helps the other women feel better about themselves. Most people who are thin are naturally thin and it only makes them have a poor body image and it certainly isn't gonna help any women who are suffering from eating disorders. The point is that people will believe anything the media tells them, and what I'm beginning to hear is "all skinny women are anorexic and unattractive" Real women comes in all shapes and sizes and attacking what was once considered desirable will always make someone feel bad about themselves.

Answer 3

I love to see beautiful women, and all different kinds of women are beautiful, but, the ideal.... perfect figure, perfect hair, perfect skin is very hard to live up to. I'll admit, I try to a certain degree but it is very hard and can be depressing at times. I hope I don't sound shallow by saying that I do try, because I am just being honest. I would like to be the best I can be. Unfortunately the ideal is impossible to live up to.... with air brushing, hair extensions,push up bra's,personal trainers, and chef's for that ideal woman in the movies or on tv. And, the fact that the ideal woman portrayed actually gets paid to look as good as she does. it is a lot harder to measure up when you have a full time hectic job that does not care if all the stress makes you break out, or if you are so busy that you only have the choice of which drive through to get lunch from a couple days a week. I admit it is hard, and sometimes striving for perfection depresses me but over all the media's ideal woman does not bring me down that much. My self esteem is pretty good I guess, and I admire some of these ideal women for their will power and dedication to diet and excerise the way that they do (that is my down fall with a busy life. I envy the ladies with what I consider beautiful figures), but then again that is their profession...to look good. I also think that the media is starting to portray a healthier image as far as bodies go. it seems like a lot of the sexiest women out there today have bigge behinds and smaller boobs than in the past (a little less silicon is seems to be the ideal these days, which is refreshing to me. I don't like to see Pam Anderson style boobs). However, the rest is still a little hard to achieve for us regular women who can't always afford diet meal delivery, hair extensions and botox. I say we just do the very best with what we got and try to preserve it for as long as possible!!!! Great question by the way!

Answer 4

I don't like listening to that. The media is the media. They make up stuff. Like "the perfect woman" is Scarlett Johansson for A magazine and the for B magazine it's Angelina Jolie. The word "perfect" can't be said to makeup. Natural beauty has to come, and there's not such thing as a perfect woman.

Answer 5

It's annoying, but I know better. What is more bothersome is when clothing stores assume the general population is going to look just like that ideal woman, and don't stock NORMAL sizes. I've had a hard time with this in the past... and I'm a normal size. (About a size 6 or so.)

Answer 6

Insulting. What does a woman have to do with the quality of bourbon? What does a woman have to do with tools, cigars, pool cues? Beats me, but the media often has a top-heavy scantily dressed vacuous wench caressing, straddling or fondling the product. I'm presuming they represent the "ideal woman" since you don't see much variance in their appearance.

Answer 7

The "Ideal" woman is ideal only to the individual that has the power to classify & portray such a person.
I am satisfied with the way God made me. My genes are imperfect according to the ideal woman but I'm content with who I am.

Answer 8

It doesn't. I'm a makeup artist and so I have a behind the scenes look at it all and I know that those women (and men!) look nothing like what you see when they sit in my chair.

it helps to always keep in mind that they are airbrushed, styled and tweaked to the point of no return.

and also, being "beautiful" is there job. they have an army of people making sure they work out, eat right and so on...

Answer 9

THE MEDIA PORTRAYS WOMEN IN A VERY CHEAP WAY.i HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY BUTT CRACKS IN MY LIFE. i'M GETTING TIRED OF LOOKING AT BELLY BUTTUNS AND TIGHT JEANS THAT ARE SURE TO GIVE ONE A YEAST INFECTION. aS A MATURE ATRACTIVE WOMAN, IT IS TRULY INSULTING TO HEAR MEN CALL WOMEN HOES. wHY DO WOMEN ACCEPT THIS? i REALLY RESPECT THE COMMERCIALS THAT PORTRAY REAL WOMEN, WOMEN WHO HAVE RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES AND DO NOT ACCEPT SOME SNOTTY KID CALLING HER A HOE.

Answer 10

not alot. i mean, media is media.
nothing really influences how i dress or how i act, except maybe my friends' insults or whatever the guys say.