A National Media Epidemic

On the broader scale the idealization of female forms occurs quite often in the mass media however, specifically, it is mostly seen in movies, television shows, and magazines. For instance, sitting in the cold, but crowded movie theatre watching the SUPER gorgeous, SUPER skinny Megan Fox escape homicidal robots from outer space, all while donning her short shorts, not one hair out of place, I often can’t help but think about myself as a women. I will NEVER be that skinny or have those abs, I will NEVER have that long lustrous hair, and I will NEVER win over the handsome hero. And why? Why won’t I win over that handsome hero and have long-lasting happiness? Because I’m not as pretty as her, not as sexy as her and because I’m not those things…I’m simply not as valuable as her. So, as my male companion is hooked on the action scenes and visual effects, I’m left ogling Megan’s cellulite-free thighs and the bust bosom bursting out of her crop-top, thinking, “geez, I will never add up to that”. This may seem like an over-dramatization to some, but as a woman myself, I think it’s fair to say that most ladies I know can often think the same way and it’s unavoidable because the image of the idealized woman is all around us. We try to escape the movie theatre to forget about the taut and tight Megan Fox, but on the tube there’s Tyra’s ninety-pound top models prancing around in our heads. We try to get away from the T.V. but every magazine we read and billboard we see parades beautiful, half-naked, toned women in front of us and reminds us if we buy what they’re selling we’ll look JUST LIKE THEM. In fact, the reason this issue is so big and does affect so many already beautiful and wonderful women is because it happens in so many places. IT SURROUNDS US