Media influences on adolescent girls' body image

This paper considers the impact of the constant exposure to media images of thin and attractive women on the body image of adolescent girls. After defining body image, the paper sets out possible consequences of media exposure which result in negative body image. Three sources of empirical evidence linking thin-ideal media to body image disturbance are identified: adolescent girls' own reports, correlational studies of naturally occurring media exposure, and experimental studies of acute media exposure. It was concluded that these sources of evidence converge to present a convincing case that the mass media have a negative impact on adolescent girls' body image. Accordingly, the media should be encouraged to portray a wider and more realistic range of female body shapes.