The Tainted Body Image Media Puts On Young Women
Women come in all different shape and sizes, but today’s media sets an image of what beautiful women in America are supposed to look like. Beauty by society and media is characterized as women with a “perfect hourglass shape, no excess fat or cellulite, white teeth, bronze skin and thin legs” (HubPages, 2010, p. 1). However, women of this description are not normal. The average height and weight of a woman is 5’4” and 145 pounds. Beauty is subjective, but women of all ages strive and compare themselves to models who are 5’10 , 115 pounds. Images of flawless females are seen all over through advertising, motion pictures, television, and magazines. Media has a negative effect of women, pressuring girls to look a certain way, which can be both physically and emotionally damaging.
Times Are Changing
In the 1800s rubenesque woman were considered to have the ideal figure . Early 1900s voluptuous women with extra weight were considered to be wealthy and have good health. The 1920s started the shift of women being thin; consumer customs embarked on the newly designed female body image by way of fashion, cosmetics, advertisements, and Hollywood. Being thin was the new indication of wealth . Marilyn Monroe, size 14, in the 50s was a sex symbol, but the biggest change in female body image came from Twiggy Lawson in the 60s. Twiggy was an underweight supermodel classified as the ideal body image. In 1992, Wiseman, Mosimann, and Ahrens conducted a research that examined the body mass index of Miss America contestants from 1979-1985 and Playboy centerfolds from 1979-1988. Outcome revealed that 60% of Miss America contestants and 69% of centerfolds were below 15% body mass index . Body mass index below 15% is a major sign of anorexia nervosa. “This research supports the notion that the cultural expectation of women’s body standards is to be ultra-thin” (Believe in You, n.d.).
Influence on Women Females know their flaws and are constantly comparing their body to other women. When women compare themselves they tend to be harder on their self. Women and girls who are not satisfied with their bodies or image of themselves drive for the ideal thin goal. Studies show the number one desire for “girls ages 11 to 17 are to be thinner, girls as young as five have expressed fears of getting fat, 80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted, and at any one time 50% of American women are currently dieting” (Healthy Places, 2012, p. 2). Some researchers propose characterized skinny models could guide young women into harmful weight control additions because the image they want to obtain is beyond the reach and dangerous for many. A different study (Healthy Places) revealed magazine picture persuaded 47% of young women to diet, when the overweight percentage was only 29. Additionally research discovered that severe dieting to accomplish a perfect physique plays a main factor in causing eating disorders. (2012). Young women who are already unhappy with their figures present more bulimic, dieting, and anxiety warning signs from following advertising icons in teen girl magazines and extended contact to fashion.
A 14-year-old girl was asked if she thinks the media is to blame for women being pressured to be thin. Her response was, “I watch TV and see these women who are like size zero I hate myself and the way I look. I’d like to be thin, but that’s not reality to people, yet girls will do anything to look that way” (Damico, 2007, p. 6).
Obesity
“Appearance influences judgments about people’s qualities, competence, and job performance. Unattractive and overweight individuals are assumed to be less smart, happy, interesting, likeable, successful, and well-adjusted” (Delagrave, 2011, p. 361). Obesity is on the raise in America, and America is already known to be the fattest country . Opposing views will indicate that the media is trying to promote awareness of healthy eating. I find this information to be false. When I watch fast food commercials of people biting into a 900 calorie burger, I see that person as having an unrealistic body with the amount of fat calories they are consuming .

Conclusion
Positive body images, in women, tend to value their distinctive beauty and identify their beauty in full detail. Many of the girls probably would be considered overweight by today's standards but are actually more targeted to a healthy weight for their height and frame. For young women to have more positive body images the media should focus on healthy looking women ; show models wearing size 7 compared to size 0. Although some girls are naturally slim, those who are not must sacrifice their health in order to obtain this supposed ideal weight. For some, this proves to be an incredible struggle. Some girls cannot achieve their goal despite their efforts. This takes a toll on their self-esteem, confidence, and feelings of worth that can lead to depression, isolating, chemical abuse, anger, aggression, and self-harming behavior .