Essay About Image Of Women Today And Average Size Of The American Woman

Perfect Disorder
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The Perfect Disorder
Americas obsession with the perfect body started with advertising popular toys,
TV shows and on the big screen in movies. Barbie Doll, actresses such as Victoria
Beckam and Lindsay Lohan, reality TV shows like Extreme Makeover and super hero
action figures with their busty chests and super slim waists have shaped what America
considers beautiful. The average size of the American woman is a 12. But in Hollywood,
it is much smaller at a 0-2. Even Marilin Monroe would be considered plus-sized in
todays society, she was a 12. This is the example Americas youth have to look at for the
“ideal body”. This ultimately leads to eating disorders and low self esteem among the
young generations. Putting an oddly proportionate Barbie in a little girls hand definitely
has a effect on how she views her own body.
The American woman in todays society can never be too thin or too pretty. In
most cases, being thin equals being beautiful. We see magazines stuffed full of
advertisements and models, actresses on TV and billboards on the side of the highway
that send the message of what American women should look like. The presence of these
images greatly effect the image of women today. Advertisers manipulate women into
thinking that their self worth is dependent on their physical appearance. Through
advertising, women are given the message that if they just work hard enough, they too
will be beautiful, thin and more likable. And in turn they will be happier. They are also
led to believe that if they work on their bodies, their personal and professional lives will
be rewarded.
This “ideal” also leads to the concern with the growing number of teenagers
effected by eating disorders. Young adults arent getting their information from their
parents like was common twenty years ago. The TV has become one of the most
influential technologies available, and in turn, it has replaced real role models and
teachers. The media teaches them what is “in”and what is beautiful. The TV has now
more influence on Americas children than their parents do. And the sad thing is that the
public as a whole is aware of this manipulation. They all know that to be as thin as the
people on TV is nearly impossible, but we all strive to somehow be that way. This is
where eating disorders come in to play. The average American woman weighs 144
pounds. And the average model in the U.S. weighs 23% less than that (110 lbs.) Many
body frames are not meant to be that small. The thing about eating disorders is that the
social requirement that we achieve the “ideal weight” is based on the presumption
that we can all control our body size, which is absolutely not true.
Many stars in Hollywood have suffered from an eating disorder brought on by
this glorified “ideal”. American Idol judge Paula Abdul battled bulimia when she was
younger and this problem escalated to the point where she checked herself into
treatment in 1994. Pinup girls and model sisters, Sia and Shane Barbi ( The Barbie
Twins) have battled bulimia and anorexia in the past. Victoria Beckham on ABC”s
20/20 in 2003 was quoted in saying, ” I was very obsessed. I mean, I could tell you
the fat