Media and marketing affecting self-esteem

Media plays a large role if our life. We see thousands of advertisements on television, billboards, magazines, and online. These shape the way Americans perceive what it is to be feminine or masculine, our perception is now skewed to unrealistic views and expectations. Beauty is distorted in our country due to what we are exposed to.

Advertisements typically feature men and women who have bodies unlike the average person, have heavy makeup, the latest clothes, and or have been altered in one way or another. Marketing takes advantage of men and women who think “if only…” If only I looked like that, if only I had that outfit. Due to this demand companies capitalize on products that claim to make you lose weight, gain muscle, overpriced makeup that will make you more beautiful, and designer clothes that will make you look better. This gets people to spend money on things having unrealistic hopes for the outcome of the products. It is a waste of money and does not help a person’s self-esteem.

Marketing these products is harmful to society. Companies should not feature only a small percentage of people in their advertisements or should be sure to say when a person is altered in any way in the advertisement (Photoshop or plastic surgery). Not only are companies taking advantage of those who are unhappy with themselves they are allowing people to spend their money on things they may not have money for to be “accepted” in our society.

I am by no means a feminist, and am not trying to be hypocritical due to the fact that I buy some of these products and do care about what other people think of me. Everyone has insecurities but with more and more marketing of these products people are unable to tell what is real and what is not. I have a problem with young girls seeing these commercials and advertisements and becoming self-conscious and having eating disorders to look like the women they look up to. Generations are progressively getting worse due to younger ages being targets for marketing. I did not grow up around this from a young age so I understand the difference but even still am impacted by these stereotypes. These younger generations have been exposed to this all their life.

Women Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Men Example: (skip to 2:30) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_I17cK1ltY

Do you think a person should be strong enough to deal with media and stereotypes on their own or should the media and marketing strategies be changed? Do you think companies feel bad for false advertising and taking advantage of people buying products to improve their appearance? Do you think if “regular” people had always been featured in advertisements that there would be less self-esteem problems in America?