Everywhere one turns, it is almost inevitable that he or she will be exposed to some form of media. From television, movies, magazines, the internet, commercials, billboards, and models, the American public views at least one type of mass media on a daily basis. It has been found that “Media usage is the leading life activity by time, with consumers using media nearly nine hours per day. More than 40 percent of that time, media was the only activity pursued—which is to say it wasn’t accompanied by work, play, shopping, or any other activity” (Elkin). Children and adults alike are bombarded by the media’s messages for a good portion of their lives. Researchers have found that by the age of 65, the average American will have spent nine years watching television and that the average child views 30,000 commercials a year (“Media Use”). Since the media is found almost anywhere, including schools, homes, highways, and jobs, it is no wonder why the frequency at which we view it is so high.

Body image can be defined as the changing perceptions and emotions that one feels about his or her body. It is greatly influenced by self-esteem and is sensitive to changes due to mood, environment, and personal experience. Society today has put a huge emphasis on the importance of one’s appearance. Through the media, the idea of what true beauty is has been formed by the universal type of models and actresses that are used today. As such a dominant force in American culture, the media is making a huge impact on the way that women view their bodies. It seems that the ideal actress is always young, thin, has big breasts and a nice butt. However, this is an inaccurate representation of the average American women. As a result of feeling that they do not fit into the definition of beauty, women viewers are developing a sense of body dissatisfaction, a drive for thinness, a sense of perfectionism, and a loss of self-esteem. Sadly, the media is continuing to portray an increasingly thinner model. “Twenty years ago, the average model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman—but today’s models weigh 23 percent less (“Beauty”). Women are now developing a negative sense of their own body images and are turning to extremes to look more like the models they see in the media.

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