Media negatively impacts girls' self-esteem and body image in several ways: 1) The use of photoshop and airbrushing creates unrealistic, "perfect" images that girls feel they must emulate through physical alteration or unhealthy behaviors. 2) Full-figured women are also photoshopped or their bodies covered up in media like magazine covers, implying that certain body types are not beautiful. 3) Music videos often portray women as sexual objects wearing revealing clothing who exist only to please men, reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

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Ashley Williams
Mrs. Wuchina
Honors American Literature
25 March 2014
Lights! Camera! Low Self-Esteem!: Media’s Negative Impact On Girls
Art is not an invention; it is an expression, an emotion, a definition; it is beyond even
that, and this is why people say a picture is worth a thousand words. On the contrary, not all of
those words are positive ones. In the visual arts part of media, the overwhelming pressure to look
and act a certain way continues to spread like wildfire. Media affects girls mentally, emotionally,
and physically in a far from beneficiary way. Media is everywhere and ever-changing; it will
only become a bigger part of everyone’s lives. Therefore, digging deeper into its negative
consequences now will only help the future to be brighter. Although media is very
technologically advanced and a great means of communicating, media negatively affects girls’
thought process, contributes to emotional pain and depression, and makes girls want to alter
themselves physically.
Firstly, the use of Photoshop and airbrushing techniques contribute to the negative affects
media has on girls. Mr. Peter Lindbergh is among the best and most popular photographers and
editors in the entire world. He is leading a debate over photo manipulation; he is, in fact, against
the practice of it (Wilson). In photo shoots or on magazine covers, the women are portrayed to be
flawless from head to toe. Their bodies look slimmer, their hair is perfect, they are taller, they are
unblemished, their makeup makes them glow, their eyes are brighter, their teeth are whiter, and

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their outfits are specially designed. Wrinkle touch ups are also effortlessly done. Why? A young
woman is considered to be a beautiful one (Wilson). It would be rare to see a girl on the cover of
a magazine who is not wearing any makeup or who is dressed in normal/everyday clothes.
Society only considers girls to be beautiful if they are not really seen as they truly are. Photoshop
triggers girls’ low self-esteem because it creates seemingly perfect images that are not naturally
able to be achieved by any individual girl.
Next, full figured women in the media are Photoshop victims. For example, Melissa
McCarthy, rising actress and movie star, is a full figured woman. When Melissa had her picture
on the cover of Elle, a magazine that shows women’s full body on covers, she was completely
covered up in a big coat. Melissa had her hair done up, makeup caked on, and her skin
airbrushed. This sparked anger in a lot of women. Just because she is curvier than other Elle
cover girls, her full body was not shown. She claims that she picked the coat to wear because she
was “sick of summer” and she knew “November was coming” (Adams). However, if a sleeker
model had offered to wear a big coat, the photographers most likely would have tried to persuade
her decision to show off her ‘beautiful’ body. Headshot covers or not showcased body covers are
reserved for women considered to be on the heavier side; however, if an individual is pregnant,
photographers are willing to pay big bucks for a naked magazine cover! Women come in all
shapes and sizes; however, they are all beautiful regardless of media’s shallow opinion.
Photoshop is used to appeal to potential buyers and customers. It is a money maker.
Statistically proven, if someone sees a magazine cover that is eye-catching with a breathtakingly
beautiful cover, he or she is more likely to buy it (Wilson). It is a system of supply and demand.
These ‘perfect’ covers are what sell; therefore, the public is at fault as well. Media is giving the
people what they want. The public falls under the spell of believing that if they look and act a

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certain way, they can be the people on the covers. It makes the girl who is modeling feel more
confident as well; however, it is a façade. Women should not have to be technologically altered
in Photoshop or airbrushing techniques in order to feel as though they are beautiful. Thus,
although celebrities and models can appear visibly different in different magazines, they still,
unfortunately, have a look other girls strive to get.
Although many women have gone down in history for trying to change unfair rights and
fighting for equality, the way women are portrayed in music videos recedes the progress that has
been established. Rap and hip-hop music videos delineate women as being sexual objects (that at
any time are prepared to be seduced) and ‘model material’ (tall, few pieces of clothing, skinny,
etc.). In these music videos, women are made to be the needy and weaker sex. R. Kelly, Snoop
Dogg, Nelly, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Eminem are all examples of men that have diminished
women’s role in either their videos or in their song lyrics. In their lyrics, these men make it out to
seem as if a girl is only beautiful if she has a big behind and a large chest. In their videos, the
girls starring in them seldom say a word, wear revealing/skimpy outfits, cling to the men
submissively, and dance in a seductive manner. Camera angles also showcase the women’s body
parts. (Maguire et. al.). The women in the videos willingly do this; they agree to support these
awful stereotypes. So, what does that say about these women? They are insecure (which is
shown in their hopes to be portrayed as material objects), they are vulnerable, and they are
unknowledgeable of the influence they can have. These women are teaching young girls that the
only way to get a man or his attention and affection is to empower him mentally, physically, and
emotionally. Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., author, of Beauty…and the Beast of Advertisement says:
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because they are new and inexperienced
consumers and are the prime targets of many advertisements. They are in the process of

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learning their values and roles and developing their self-concepts. Most teenagers are
sensitive to peer pressure and find it difficult to resist or even question the dominant
cultural messages perpetuated and reinforced by the media. Mass communication has
made possible a kind of national peer pressure that erodes private and individual values
and standards. The fact of the matter is that sex sells, and as long as society continues to
buy into this concept how will we be able to stop it? The answer is simple, love yourself
and do not try to please people. (Maguire et. al.)
It is often said that ‘you cannot judge a book by its cover’; however, this is quite the
contraire. In today’s society, appearance is extremely important. Starting as early as 1941, media
has progressively made thin bodies the ideal figure for women to possess (“Body”). The images
that media makes creates the pressure to be perfect. Girls can and will feel that they are not
skinny enough, pretty enough, or just plain out good enough for this society if they do not look
and act a certain way. Various statistics prove this. Studies show that 53% of girls are dissatisfied
with their appearance at the age of 13; this percentage inflates to 78% by the age of 17. Also,
56% of commercials that are targeted to a female audience utilize flawlessness as an appeal to
the product (“Body”). Parts of these statistics contribute to self-fulfilling prophecy. Self-fulfilling
prophecy is an anticipated expectation pressured on an individual by someone else or on the
individual himself or herself. For example, if someone is constantly telling an individual that he
or she is ugly, sooner than later, that individual will begin to believe it and make his or her goal
to become more attractive; that individual will do anything to fulfill that goal to self satisfy.
Magazine covers, music videos, and people who have already achieved physical satisfaction
directly and indirectly inflict this pressure of self-fulfilling prophecy on girls who have not yet
attained their self satisfaction. Emotional distress is the result of not achieving the prophecy.

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When one thing does not work, girls will try another. After all, the inspirational quote, itself,
says: that if at first someone does not succeed, that person should try again.
Unfortunately, when a girl cannot achieve her self-fulfilling prophecy, she endeavors to
physically alter herself. This may mean undergoing surgeries like breast implants, liposuction,
butt enhancers, Botox, or tummy tucks to appear ‘prettier’ (Maguire et. al.). It is a shame that
women are self-conscious and overcome with guiltiness for being themselves. They feel it is a
necessity to be this picture perfect woman that media creates, and that is just it, media creates
this image! It is not real! Surgeries are costly and serious procedures that have the possibility of
going extremely wrong. Someone may die while under the knife if one incision is even a
centimeter off of where it should be. Also, it is not a justifiable reason to spend money. Surgeries
that are meant to possibly (the surgery might make the person more unhappy) improve an
individual’s mindset on their looks are not needs; they are wants. Plus, many people who get one
appearance altering surgery may be motivated to get more. Surgery after surgery is bound to end
badly at some point.
Sadly, physical alterations can also mean having an eating disorder. Low self-esteem,
stress, anxiety, depression, and abuse are all contributions to the start of an eating disorder and
its continuation. Immediate treatment is needed for these people because eating disorders can
rapidly spiral out of control. The different types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia
nervosa, and binge eating. Anorexia sufferers are utterly terrified of gaining weight regardless of
their current weight. Therefore, they will starve themselves, over-exercise, and do completely
unsafe dieting in order to maintain a look they are pleased with. Around 1000 women pass away
due to this eating disorder each year. Bulimia sufferers will binge their food while a cloud of
guilt hangs over them. That person will then proceed to promptly vomit or use a type of laxative

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to release the guilt. There is an estimation of over 5 million people that allegedly begin an eating
disorder each year provided by The National Institute of Mental Health; over 90% of that
estimation are women ranging from the ages of 12 to 25. As a final statistic, 40% of the eating
disorders that start do so because of some sort of media (social sites, magazines, television,
music videos, etc.) negatively influencing the sufferers (“National”). Media may not be to blame
for every single eating disorder; however, media causes a lot of negative pressure and results due
to that pressure.
Media is an outstanding advancement and is only going to get bigger and better. Au
contraire, media creates a lot of negative energy and pressure for girls. This pressure leads to
consequences, and being that some of these consequences are life threatening or ending, it is not
acceptable. Media has come very far; however, there is no doubt that it needs improvements.
Girls’ negative thought process, emotional pain, and tantalizing want to physically change all
comes from media’s definition of do’s and don’ts. The quicker that these stereotypical ways are
abolished, the sooner the world can be a happier and more accepting place.

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Works Cited
Adams, Rebecca. "Melissa McCarthy On Elle Cover Controversy: 'I Picked The Coat!'" The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
"Body Image and Nutrition." UW Departments Web Server. Teen Futures Media Network,
College of Education, University of Washington. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
Maguire, Sean, Vanessa Malone, Jacquelyn Markovich, Stephen Massey, Ryan McNulty, Sean
McPike, and Alex Meiring. “Women in the Visual Media.” Bowling Green State
University Home Page - University Home Page - BGSU. Ed. Sean Maguire and Vanessa
Malone. Comp. Jeff McDaniel. Bowling Green State University Home Page - University
Home Page - BGSU. BGSU. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
"National Eating Disorders Association." National Eating Disorders Association. National
Eating Disorders Association, Rader Programs, Eating Disorder Center of Denver,
Remuda Ranch, and Rogers Memorial Hospital., Sept. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
Wilson, Eric. "Smile and Say 'No Photoshop'" The New York Times. The New York Times, 31
Dec. 2007. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.