Blog 10

Raunch culture thrives on sexuality to market or sell something in an explicit manner.  As they say, “sex sells”, but it also sells negative body images to both men and women around the world.  The culture values beautiful, sexy individuals who don’t mind shaking and/or showing a little skin. Reality shows, talk shows and porn have all disturbed raunchy images through their media outlets. It’s become a form of entertainment to see slutty girls competing to be one man’s “girl”. Raunch culture allows people to express and enjoy their sexuality however it may also stereotype the rest of the population that resemble the raunchy crowd.           

            We learn that there are certain ways men and women act, at an early age through interpersonal relationships and the media. I’ve always heard that I should “act like a young lady” or “that’s not lady-like”.  I think most people conform to the standards to avoid being assumed as gay or called a dike. Women are commonly linked to being sensitive, dramatic, caring, emotional, clean and timid but when a woman overly lacks a key characteristic we’re labeled “manly”. To be “like a man” has the same costs as well. Any male that is not assertive, handy, “wears the pants” or  “hard” is considered a weak.  In this day and age, roles are so interchangeable that either sex can pursue a certain role.  The norm at my house consists of my boyfriend doing the majority of the cooking leaving me with the cleaning and washing.  He’s definitely not weak but just so happens to possess a skill that is considered “a woman’s job” in our society.

Body Image Project

Blog 7

During Adolescence is when we start to alter our body image. It’s where girls start wearing make-up and spend extra time on their appearance. Guys dedicated more time to the weight room to achieve the tough guy look. Teenagers are adjusting to their developing bodies and finding things they aren’t satisfied with. Body image affects their social life, which is a HIGH priority to students after their education of course. J

 

In the movie, “ Real Women have Curves”, Ana is the exception to the norm. She is strong, intelligent and confident though out the movie. She has a positive body image even though society would consider her weight above average. She stood up for herself, even to her mom, when told she need to loose weight to be beautiful. She even goes to say that she doesn’t want to loose weight due to the fact her mother constantly nags her about it. A boy from school that fell for Ana reinforced that thick girls are desirable and that there is more to a women than her looks. She wants this boy and the women in the sweatshop that she is comfortable in her skin. Carmen, Ana’s mother, stresses that thinness is the only way she will be beautiful and find a husband. The Hispanic cultural plays a major part in Carmen’s mind set although Ana’s modern beliefs contradict with her mothers.

 

Americans are definitely are infatuated with thinness. The rise of obesity has open eyes to many people and the diet industry has profited because of it. I watch my weight so I don’t’ go up a size. After gaining 40 pounds while pregnant, I am not in favor of carrying some extra weight.  Obesity is still a problem but the negative effects of being large are causing more eating disorders. Ana was definitely not fat; She had curves that were not unflattering and as long as she is healthy she has nothing to worry about. Ana’s personality and intelligence made her beautiful. Jimmy, Ana’s teacher and most of her family members saw her glow.

 

I liked Ana’s character as a role model to girls that struggle with their weight. She did not lack confidence or intelligence due to her weight. I think the movie should have ended with mother showing up at the airport to give Ana her blessing. It’ s sad that her mother could not understand the potential of her daughter and what she could contribute to the world. 

Blog 6

An eating disorder is an extreme dissatisfaction of one’s body that has negative physical and mental effect. Someone with an eating disorder may restrict their eating or use ways to get rid of food from their body before it’s observed. The pressure, stress and depression lead to eating disorders. Our society revolves around having an ideal body. Advertisers thrive on a woman’s beauty, thinness and sexiness, which affect the minds of the consumers. Everyone wants to look like a celebrity so girls and boys will go to the extreme to reach their desired body. You can’t even watch TV for 30 minutes with out seeing a commercial promoting beauty, dieting, or fashion.

Body image starts when you’re a child. Girls want to look like Barbie and guys want to look like NFL football players. Kids usually will get picked on at school if they are chubby and even get harassed at home for eating junk food. The encounters we have as a child affect our ways as an adolescent. In high school, everyone wants to be liked and wanted so changing you appearance and lifestyles is not uncommon. Eating Disorders is a route some take to get the thinness everyone desires. College campus continues the standards that you must have beauty and lean to be wanted. We are constantly surrounded by what society’s dictates as perfection. The fashion industry practice of hiring extremely thin models and producing small sizes for certain clothes raises the need to be skinny.

As we saw in the movie, eating disorders were harming the bodies and minds of young women were they had to be admitted into an intake clinic for treatment. The girls were had symptoms of depression and had extremely standards for their thinness. Most of them just wanted to be accepted into society. One girl passed away in her early thirties because of her rigorous habits.

Positive Energy

News Item Report

"Give them a hand, NOT a calorie chart"




http://www.omaha.com/article/20090710/LIVING01/707109884

The above article is one every parent should read and comprehend. Habits start at childhood and as a parent it's crucial to know how to handle situations that concerns your child's body image. It informs parents of the negative effects of being critical of calories such as eating disorders, bone loss, inadequate nutrition and negative body image issues. It also gives tips on how to make sure your child is eating healthy and staying active with out putting a strong emphasis on weight. This message could be more effective as a TV commerical on a national broadcast station to distribute the message to those who lack this mind set.

Kimberly Jones

Media Analysis – Positive message

            Essence Magazine published an advertisement portrayed woman in a sophisticated yet realistic light. Not only does the AD send a positive message about women to its audience, it also shows an African American woman as a mother who is there for her child. As the mother holds her child’s hand, she’s making eye contact and listening to her little one. Both the mother and child are well clothed so the attention is not focused on their body.  When I first saw the AD, I automatically thought of an upper middle class working mother walking her child home from school. The setting is in a nice neighborhood, which gives a refined vibe.  I feel that this image is rare and are mostly found in African American media outlets. The AD does go against many stereotypes society places on African American women.

            Although black females are shown in a positive light, the AD was in a magazine direct towards blacks. It’s important for similar Ads to circulate in popular mass media. Motivation and Achievement are what I feel when I look at this Ad. I want to be the successful mom that has time for her child once he gets out of class. Ads of classy black women are eye catching when flipping through a magazine. I tend to focus on their make up, hair and style.  Young girls also envy to be like the images in the magazine therefore the Ads that shows a chic black mom could be desired.

Media Analysis- negative message

Elle magazine circulated a disturbing advertisement that depicted women of color in an unappealing fashion. An Asian American woman appears to be physical abused where red nail polish is used to resemble blood in the picture. The women of color are not equally represented in popular culture and to compose the picture as though she has been beat up is way out of line. The Ad is to sell make up but it sells violence towards women of color. The woman is not sending a positive message nor is she illustrated to be a role model. She is simple shown as a helpless women covered in “blood”.  

I don’t understand how the Ad is even selling the polish instead just leaving a disturbing image that’s motives are clearly not respectable. I would not even be focused on the make-up and definitely would not be eager to by the products after seeing the evil AD. The woman is also very thin sending out another damaging messages to girls who want to be accepted into our society. Ads that contain violence is stating that abuse, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault victimizations at the hands of an intimate are becoming the norm if it just can be tossed in an magazine AD so freely.

            As a woman of color I feel that the media is still portraying us as  being worth less than white women. I occasionally gaze through Elle magazine to see current images of fashion however the representations of minority woman or even women in general are not given justice.