The Media's Unrealistic Beauty Standards and Their Impact on Young Girls

We constantly see unattainable beauty standards in the media, and it can significantly harm young girls. The media can cause body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and disordered eating. When girls compare their bodies to what they see in the media, it increases their chances of having a poor body image. Research has shown that media consumption is negatively associated with self-esteem, meaning the more a girl consumes media, the greater the chance she will have lower self-esteem.

Regarding disordered eating, research has shown that constant exposure to unhealthy messages about body image is related to disordered eating behaviors. When young girls see these unhealthy messages, such as the need for a thigh gap or a flat stomach, it can increase their chances of developing eating disorder behaviors to obtain these body types. Teens spend an average of nine hours a day using media, including movies, television, and social media sites, meaning they receive many hours of harmful media exposure.

The Lack of Diversity and the Idealization of Celebrities

Young girls are constantly subjected to unattainable beauty standards, and the media does a poor job of defining what a 'normal girl' looks like. Female celebrities are constantly photoshopped to perfect their bodies by clearing any flaws in their skin and editing their body parts.

One of the biggest problems is the lack of diversity seen in the media, which idealizes female celebrities who are white, tall, and thin. This is unhealthy for many young girls of different ethnicities because they see a society that does not represent their ethnicity well in the media.

A Push Towards Diversity and Body Positivity

However, there has been a push toward a more diverse standard of beauty, both in body image and ethnicity. Some brands no longer Photoshop their models because it's about "body positivity and loving your real self." Some celebrities are also speaking out about being photoshopped and advocating for diverse bodies in the media.