Advertisement

Alainey Smith
English 161
10/6/13
When it comes to self esteem, advertisement has the biggest effect on people; women in particular. Television commercials, internet ads, and even clothing advertisements send messages about how women “should” look. After seeing someone look so perfect on TV or in a magazine it can give a girl unrealistic expectations thus making her feel bad about herself. Jean Killbourne, speaker about how women are sexualized says, “Well, what does advertising tell us about women? It tells us, as it always has, that’s what’s most important is how we look” (Killbourne).
We live in an age overwhelmed with advertisement; it has gone as far as making food sexual and TV posters on the side of buses. Growing up, almost everyone deals with the process of losing their baby fat. Some people are lucky and get out of that stage learning what calories are ending up wanting to be skinnier, like a model. They end up forgetting what healthy is and do anything to lose weight portrayed by the media. Advertisements harmful effects on the body images and self esteem have caused eating disorders, and mental/physical depression among adolescent girls and women. The media is always coming out with a new weight loss pill or showing a gym to come along and shed off a few pounds; these ads normally consist of women with a beautiful tan and a perfect little figure. Images of models have been digitally altered to make their breast bigger and the waist smaller showing unattainable perfection. This image gives a warped vision of beauty in which normal young girls may never live up to.   Teenage girls feel the need to match the current fashion trend no matter how expensive it is, as long as they can feel the same as everyone else. Many girls feel they need to fit the mold instead of being their unique selves. Every single individual is different in their own way, however the media has drilled into every young girl’s mind that they have to be a Barbie to be accepted by...