There are certain stereotypes about women’s body images, and the media has a big contribution in their creation. Let’s be honest, the average person in this country does not look like Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry or Jennifer Lopez. Why it is that average women are not represented in mass media formats? It’s actually a simple answer. Idealized beauty standards are seen everywhere from commercials, to TV shows and movies . The women seen more often on TV or magazines are fashion models, actresses or pop stars, supermodels that personally I don’t see what super thing they have. In a 1992 study of female students at Stanford University, 70% of women reported feeling worse about themselves and their bodies after looking at magazines . Stereotypes are seen in many areas of TV, movies, video games, and other media. Characters have been changed around, now you can see women as action figures like Lara Croft, Xena, Charlie’s angels, etc; but, still that character keeps the stereotype of always young beautiful perfect body.
The music industry just like the film industry has a big effect on how women are seen in today’s society. Music videos show sexual behavior to attract the audience. Women bodies are most of the times displayed in a sexual way, and this behavior is imitated by young girls all over the world. It is clear that the image of young women in the media has a big impact not only in young people but everybody. No matter if is through music, movies, TV shows, or anywhere in the media, young people are influenced to act like the people that they see on TV. Music videos show women as a sexual object, on videos like “MTV videos” you will see the guys fully dressed, but the women in the background are showing up their breasts and other parts. Sex seems to be the newest style in the music business, and whether it is through the lyrics or the dancing and clothes of the women in the music industry, there is no doubt that the media shows women as sex objects.
Because of the negative description of women in the media, women are not only spending a huge deal of money on beauty products, but are spending thousands to hundreds of thousands on sometimes risky cosmetic surgery. Women are also dieting from eating disorders because of the thin-model figured women shown in the media . Advertisements use a variety of female stereotypes, many of which can be psychologically and physiologically harmful Theses advertisements present the impression that the domination of women in social roles are for the benefit of entertaining and providing pleasure to men, One of the largest problems with this false observation of women’s roles is that they are not seen with the roles that they in fact hold. The truth that women are portrayed negatively in advertisements change the way that society views them. This portrayal of women as sex objects influences the way many guys learn to see women: as a pretty package, something to take a look at, but not necessarily to respect. Sorry to say, this becomes a common view from society, resulting from the media. Women, in return, are given less respect and not treated as equals.
The media portrays women in a negative way. The media presents the idea that women are inferior to and subordinate to men. This portrayal is seen in music lyrics and music videos. It is also seen in a number of advertisements, where women are basically there just to look pretty. This type of portrayal of women in the media can have many negative effects .
