Popular+articles

"Body Image”. //Current Issues: McMillan Social Science Library.// Gale, 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.< []>.

This work does not have a specific author, but it is produced by Gale. Gale provides information resources for schools, libraries, and businesses. This specific article is a part of a series on social issues. It is an overview of body image, meant for secondary school students.

The article does not have specific argument, but focuses on body image- what it is, how it is formed, and how problems with body image can develop. The main parts of the article are its introduction, why it has become such a concern as of late, the role of puberty (broken down into the process and effects of it), the role of media and culture in shaping body image, the formation of body issues, and how to identify a person with body image issues. This allows the reader to follow from a basic understanding to how it impacts a person.

The article’s evidence appears as an overview of general knowledge, statistics on body image disorders and media input, and how teenagers feel about these issues. The statistics would be specifically helpful in an argument of the subject. They help one see just how far the media can distort people’s views of a body image by setting forth a nearly impossible “ideal” body type.

The work is very easy to follow and appears well-researched. The topic has definitely been adequately addressed as each information-packed section follows from the beginning to its logical conclusion. The article does not have an author. It seems to be a relatively objective article; however, there could be some slight anti-media bias in the form of loaded words.

This source taught me more about how the media has influenced body image and how major world events, such as war, can have an impact on what a culture views as an “ideal” body. The statistics and information about the media and cultural shifts in body image ideals could be very useful in the argument. This source provides background for a general understanding before launching into an argument and provides statistics and specific examples to bolster the argument.

Erickson, Latha. //Body-image pressure inundates teen girls//. CNN, 15 Mar. 2007. Web. 16 May 2011.< []>.

Latha Erickson is a coordinating producer at CNN who graduated from the University of Michigan. The article is an informational report on how much pressure the media puts on teen girls to conform to an unattainable body image ideal. The intended audience is the layperson- the article is very easily available online to the general public, and uses very little technical language.

Erickson argues that the standardized, media reinforced image of “beauty” for girls, especially in terms of the expectation of being rail-thin, is very damaging to their overall body image. She first cites the specific example of Tyra Banks, and how the world of celebrity gossip reacted to her weight gain after she ended her modeling career. Girls look up to her for not bowing to the pressure to be absolutely rail thin, but the gossip world calling her weight gain “disgusting” must surely also have a negative impact on the body image of girls. In addition, Erickson includes information from Catherine Hill, the research director for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation in regards to the standards of appearance set forth by Barbie and the influence of such standards on middle school girls. For example, the doctor, cheerleader, and most other Barbies share the same sets of physical attributes. According to Hill, as cited in this article, this sends the message to girls- “you can do whatever you want career-wise, but you must look like this to be considered ‘beautiful’”. However, Erickson then goes on to show there is hope for girls inundated with this body ideal. She states the presence of a strong father figure may help to counteract the damaging media ideals. For more information, she cites Joe Kelly, president of Dads and Daughters, a non-profit group that hopes to promote such relationships. Kelly states that dads should be aware of the damaging media images, and try to focus on character traits, as opposed to physical ones.

The evidence that Erickson sets forth to support her assertions comes from individuals and organizations involved in studying the role of media images on girls’ body image and counteracting the damaging effects. Such evidence is mentioned in the above paragraph, through direct quotes from individuals such as Catherine Hill and Joe Kelly. These direct quotes provide evidence to support my particular argument- these ideals set forth by the media are truly damaging to the development of girls’ body images.

The work is very clear and logical; the order flows very well from one paragraph to the next and each assertion is well supported with quotes from experts. The topic could perhaps, be more adequately addressed, however, surely there are more than two examples of how the media sets forth damaging body ideals to girls. The major bias of the author seems to be anti-media in terms of promoting these unrealistic ideals. She does not mention any pro-media perspectives, and there is much loaded language against the media.

From this source, I learned about some of the more specific examples of how the mass media enforces unattainable body ideals- such as the reaction to Tyra Banks and the expectation set forth by Barbie. The direct quotes from experts provided in this article in regards to the messages of such examples were especially helpful to supporting my argument. In addition, this source helped me further develop my argument by providing necessary support for my thesis through these specific examples.