This presentation discusses how the objectification and sexualization of women in media such as advertisements can contribute to the development of eating disorders and other psychological issues in women. It provides examples of advertisements and media images that treat women as sexual objects and promote unrealistic beauty standards. The presentation cites research from the American Psychiatric Association linking exposure to such objectifying media to increased rates of mental health issues like depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders in women and girls. It argues that a broader societal shift is needed away from sexualizing women in order to improve women's mental wellbeing.
1. warning This presentation includes offensive images and offensive language. These images and phrases are commonly found and only offensive towards women. Enjoy.
2. Social Problems Causing Psychological Chaos Eating Disorders and the Media Chelsey Morris SOCI 314
3. Modern Day Presentations of Women:You can either be an object, or a sex object…*as long as you’re a thin, attractive, white sex object… Killing Me Softly 4 will be the film referenced in this piece. The focus of study will be how the social problem of objectification (and pornification) of women in advertising can cause long-term psychological damage; specifically, eating disorders.
4. Is this REALLY a Social Problem..? So, a few women don’t eat enough, or they eat too much and then throw up…is this really a social problem? YES. The group affected is largely young, white women. 90% women, to be exact (“Eating Disorders”) The proposed solution is generally therapy for the individual; and modern, less-offensive advertising for society as a whole.
6. Where is this seen? Everywhere! Magazines (Cosmo) TV commercials (Any beer commercial) Billboards Online (Ads for weight loss) Films (Megan Fox, Kim K…) TV Sitcoms (Often deal with appearance issues; where the “fat” person is a joke)
7. SEX, SEX, SEX, SEX, SEX… FOR MEN. http://www.superficialdiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/scarlett-johansson-cosmopolitan-magazine-august-2008.jpg
8. A few recent examples… These include advertisements that objectify women, belittle women’s capabilities, and otherwise defile the bodies of women… But what does that have to do with eating disorders? I would argue that it is the systematic representation of women as passive objects of men’s pleasure that contributes to eating disorders as a social problem in itself. Yes, the images of impossibly beautiful women affect self esteem; but so does the constant message that you are no more than an object with little or no value. The messages of these images are easy to decipher!
9. Be young, thin, and look twice your age (unless you’re over 20)! http://www.my3cents.com/review_images/67589.jpg
10. As long as you can cook; you’ll find yourself a husband! Since you’re automatically heterosexual and don’t want to work! (at least you shouldn’t) http://micahman55.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/31-im-giving-my-wife-a-kenwood-chef-1961.jpg
11. A good drink and a pastry can take care of your over-emotional self! (Since men don’t want to handle them anyways…) http://www.thedailyfemme.com/femme/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/van-gogh-2.jpg
12. If you put a magazine over your face (with a hot car image), then you will get laid! http://feministactivism.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/personality-doesnt-matter.jpg
13. You need to please men; even if you get hurt in the process! (In fairness; this image also places pressure on males for the sizing of their genitalia) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_89dI0Xw8830/S3D6X3rCzjI/AAAAAAAABNc/vJNl6QUIKAQ/s400/886507661.jpg
14. Your vagina is quite the marketing strategy! Since putting men’s cologne “down there” is the only way to get his attention down south… http://www.oddee.com/_media/imgs/articles/a276_a13.jpg
15. Men prefer stupid women; at least if you act dumb, you can get in his pants. If that fails; turn to pornography! Since she’s clearly taking a picture of herself. http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34559_411923693807_12424063807_4407294_5326207_n.jpg
16. This ad speaks for itself, and leads me to my next point…
17. Size According to Gender Very quickly; I would like to point out that the way we talk about sizing in men vs. women does reflect societal pressures on women to be thin. Men’s sizes are in inches; concrete measurements. Men WEAR sizes. Women’s sizes can vary from store to store; with the presence of 0 or 00 sizing. Ask any woman about her recent jean purchases; she will say, most likely, “I AM a size _____”. Women are taught that we ARE a number, and should strive to be a 0. A nothing. Or, if you’re special; a double nothing. How’s that for self esteem?
18. What Many Women Think…Quote from “Killing Me Softly 4”Thank you, Kate Moss! http://rlv.zcache.com/nothing_tastes_as_good_as_skinny_feels_tshirt-p235048474566935258yc5n_400.jpg http://media6.onsugar.com/files/2010/12/50/1/192/1922794/4d35b819ceaeede2_Screen_shot_2010-12-13_at_11.34.17_AM.preview/i/Nothing-Tastes-Good-Skinny-Feels-Pillow-Jonathan-Adler.jpg http://melindatankardreist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/skinny-feels-t.jpg
19. When You Put It All Together These photo shopped, cropped, edited images of women are unrealistic (Killing Me Softly 4). But clearly; these imaginary standards are impacting even the youngest of women. If no one really looks like the women in magazines or in advertisements; the constant pressure to look like that can certainly drive women mad. And it does.
20. The APA; they wrote the book on it!(--literally) The DSM IV is the diagnostic “bible” for Psychology. It lists all mental disorders and required symptoms for diagnosis (from “DSM IV”) http://altmentalities.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/dsmiv1.jpg
21. Insecurity & Low Self-Esteem Can become several mental disorders and can cause long-term physical, psychological, and emotional damage. The study cited in Killing Me Softly 4 stated that the APA found a direct link between women who were exposed to advertisements that cause low self-esteem and 1) depression, 2) depressed disorder, and 3) eating disorders. “Killing Me Softly 4”
22. But they’re Psychologists… …and these psychological findings are largely intertwined with the social problem classified as eating disorders; and are therefore relevant to the discussion and research of such disorders and their causes, both on a large-scale sociological view, but also, on an individual basis—according to Psychological findings. The sociological studies of advertising directly correlate with psychological disorders in young women!
23. The APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls According to this study; “sexualization occurs when: a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness (narrowly defined) with being sexy a person is sexually objectified—that is, made into a thing for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and/or sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person” From “Executive Summary” on the APA TF Page
24. This sounds similar to… Every issue of Cosmopolitan Every sexist joke Every beer commercial Every kind of advertising that uses women in the selling or appeal of their products. The way society defines women as a whole.
25. What about Men… A whopping 1.5% of advertisements observed in this study showed men being sexualized for the selling of a product. (“Report of the APA Task Force on Sexualization”) Anecdotal sidenote: If you type in “Ads that sexualize men” into Google Images; you will see a line which says, “Did you mean to say ‘Ads that sexualize women’?” (From Google) There would be an image here; but I couldn’t find one.
26. The Impacts of Sexualization(We’ll get to eating disorders next…) Impaired mental functioning in mathematic and logical reasoning! A measurable decrease in brain functioning… Diminished sexual health (including use of condoms, assertiveness in decision making, and unrealistic sexual expectations) Appearance and physical attributes become central to defining sexuality and femininity “Report of the APA Task Force on Sexuality”
27. The Menage A Trois of Mental Problems The three most common (and inter-related) mental disorders of young women are directly linked to sexualization! Eating disorders (No. 1) Low self-esteem and depression (No. 2) Depressed Mood or Major Depressive Disorder (No. 3) (Please note that the DSM IV differentiates among depression, depressed mood, and major depressive disorder) Eating disorders and depression are commonly comorbidly diagnosed (If you have one, you are much more likely to have the other) (“The Report of the APA Task Force on Sexualization”)
28. Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa is defined by a fear of gaining weight to the point of starvation; even when extreme thinness is achieved. Bulimia Nervosa is a binge-expunge cycle in which an individual will starve themselves; binge on large amounts of food, and then expunge it all from their system to keep from gaining weight. Interesting note; Anorexia Nervosa patients tend to be more perfectionist, whereas bulimia nervosa patients are much more impulsive. (“Eating Disorders”)
29. The Solution; Individually On an individual basis, psychological treatment is highly recommended. There is often a cognitive-behavioral aspect (focusing on thought patterns and controllable behavior). Anti-depressant medications may be prescribed temporarily to ease the side effects of an eating disorder. (“Eating Disorders”)
30. The Psychologically Suggested Remedy for Broader Society Why, yes, Psychologists have proposed remedies for this social problem. They suggest creating a holistic school-based sexuality education, focusing on media and women. School based critical thinking skills classes; focusing on viewing the media in a skeptical way. Getting parents and caregivers involved in the dialogue and process to think critically. Girls’ groups, empowerment groups, and online feminist resources are highly recommended resources. “The Report of the APA Task Force on Sexualization”
31. The prognosis Young girls who develop eating disorders have a great chance at successful recovery. With therapy, support, and anti-depression medication if necessary; most women can expect a full recovery and a healthy amount of weight gain. Most treatment facilities will not discharge anyone diagnosed with an eating disorder until they have obtained a healthy body weight for their height and frame.
33. Aren’t there other issues? There are several other sociological issues that come into play. I won’t go into detail; but I will give each a brief recognition. Heteronormativity Infantalization Socializing (gender norms) Commodification of the female body
34. In Conclusion It is the holistic view of women portrayed by the media at large which causes such degrading images in advertising. Yes, some past trauma (such as sexual abuse, rape, etc) may predispose a woman to develop an eating disorder. However, feelings of low self-esteem that are cited are more often due to a general pressure to “be more attractive” rather than specific life experiences. (“Eating Disorders”)
35. Please note The music used in this presentation was a display of how women are represented in the music aspect of media and the opinions in the song do not represent my opinion on women; or the opinions of any cited sources. These songs are meant to bring to the attention of the viewers how women are sexualized, especially in popular music, both by men; and by other women!
37. Thank you For viewing this presentation. All of the information can be found using the Works Cited slide All picture credits are in-slide, directly below each image.
38. Works Cited American Psychiatric Association “DSM IV” http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Research/DSMIV.aspx “Eating Disorders” http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/eating.aspx “Killing Me Softly 4” Accessed via Media Matrix “Report on the APA TF on Sexualization” http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
