Cultural imperialism refers to the idea that Western media dominates the ideologies and values promoted in other countries, transmitting messages of individualism and consumerism. Media representations of women can influence body image issues. Studies show that anorexic and bulimic women overestimate their body size more than others after viewing thin fashion models. Advertisements normalize unrealistically thin bodies to create desire and drive consumption, generating billions for the diet industry. Female portrayals in media often rely on stereotypes and emphasize thin, made-up appearances.

1. Cultural Imperialism: Media’s representation of Women
I wanted to investigate the theme of our music video further, and so I
scoured the internet for articles and information on the idea of media
dominating our ideologies, and the ideologies of our society... I have
created a post in the form of quotes, images, ideas and general snippets
from the web...
"The concept of media and cultural imperialism was made prominent by a number of
Latin American thinkers including Antonio Pasquali, Luis Ramiro Beltran, Fernando
Reyes Matta, and Mario Kaplun."
"Adherents of the media imperialism tradition held that a small group of
Western countries not only controlled the international media trade but used it
to transmit their particular cultural and economic values, particularly
individualism and consumerism, to large numbers of developing nations
around the world."
(Cultural imperialism: a critical introduction By John Tomlinson)
Media influences on body size
estimation in anorexia and bulimia.
An experimental study
K Hamilton and G Waller
Department of General Practice, University of Aberdeen.
Anorexic and bulimic women overestimate their
body sizes substantially more than comparison
women, but little is known about the factors that
influence this overestimation. This study examined
the influence of media portrayal of idealized female
bodies in women's fashion magazines. Comparison
women were not affected by the nature of the
photographs that they saw, but eating-disordered
women were--they overestimated more when they

2. had seen the pictures of women than when they saw
photographs of neutral objects.
Versace heiress battling anorexia is 'desperately ill'
By Nick Pisa, Evening Standard, in Rome, 26.04.07
Body Image and
Advertising:
"The average woman sees 400
to 600 advertisements per day
and by the time she is 17 years
old, she has received over
250,000 commercial messages
through the media. Only 9% of
commercials have a direct statement about beauty, but many more implicitly
emphasize the importance of beauty--particularly those that target women and girls.
One study of Saturday morning toy commercials found that 50% of commercials
aimed at girls spoke about physical attractiveness, while none of the commercials
aimed at boys referred to appearance."
“Advertisements emphasize thinness as a standard for female beauty, and the bodies
idealized in the media are frequently atypical of normal, healthy women. In fact, today's
fashion models weigh 23% less than the average female, and a young woman between the
ages of 18-34 has a 7% chance of being as slim as a catwalk model and a 1% chance of
being as thin as a supermodel. However, 69% of girls in one study said that magazine
models influence their idea of the perfect body shape, and the pervasive acceptance of this
unrealistic body type creates an impractical standard for the majority of women.”

3. “Some researchers believe that advertisers purposely
normalize unrealistically thin bodies, in order to create an
unattainable desire that can drive product consumption...”
“...Considering that the diet industry alone generates $33 billion in revenue, advertisers have
been successful with their marketing strategy.”
We all know the stereotypes—the femme fatale, the supermom, the sex
kitten, the nasty corporate climber. Whatever the role, television, film and popular
magazines are full of images of women and girls who are typically white, desperately
thin, and made up to the hilt—even after slaying a gang of vampires or dressing down
a Greek phalanx.
Many would agree that some strides have been made in how the media portray
women in film, television and magazines, and that the last 20 years has also seen a
growth in the presence and influence of women in media behind the scenes.

4. Nevertheless, female stereotypes continue to thrive in the media we consume every
day.
This section of the site provides a snapshot of the issues around the media’s portrayal
of women and girls—from effects on body image and self-identity to ramifications in
sports and politics. It looks at the economic interests behind the objectification and
eroticization of females by the media as well as efforts to counter negative
stereotyping. And it provides the latest articles and studies that explore the ways in
which media both limit and empower women and girls in society.
Source: http://www.mediaawareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/