Through my research, I have found
an answer to my proposed research question: Is there a direct correlation
between female adolescent body image and social media such as tublr or
pinterest. Social media may not be the only factor effecting adolescent body
image, but it definitely does affect female adolescent body image.
Adolescents
are commonly unhappy with their body image. According to Bernier, the term
“normative discontent” is the experienced body dissatisfaction and desire to be
thin that is so prevalent in young girls. Bernier conducted a study to measure
adolescent’s body image. She determined that, “girls desired a greater change
in body shape that did boys” (Bernier e37).
Why is it that girls experience a greater dissatisfaction with their
bodies? The representation of women through media is the answer.
It is
common knowledge that magazines, models, and celebrities affect female
adolescent body image, but what about the new social media forms such as
pinterest and tumblr? Yes, social media also affects female adolescent body
image. According to Clarke, “The blogging platform Tumblr has become of recent
concern, with particular Tumblr sites glamorizing eating disorders” (2011).
There are many posts on Tumblr where girls confess to eating disorders such as
anorexia and bulimia. “The Tumblr phenomenon plays a significant role in many
young girls’ online experience. Being exposed to such images can make a young
girl feel worthless and not value their own natural features” (Clarke, 2011).
When
young girls are experiencing these negative attitudes toward their experience,
it is communication is a must. It is not helpful to discount their remarks,
because that will make the young girl closed off and not want to discuss it.
According to Anthony, “Encourage her to discuss why she feels the way she does.
When unrealistic social norms are brought to light, children are able to put
them in better perspective.
When
researching, I found a truly inspiring story about a fourteen year old girl
name Julia Bluhm. Julia recognized the unrealistic expectation of a female that is portrayed in Seventeen
magazine. She witnessed the poor body image of many due to this magazine. She
had 46,000 people sign a petition asking Seventeen magazine to stop retouching
and photograph real people people in the magazine, not perfect, retouched
models. (Dwyer 2012). She and her mother traveled to New York City and
presented the petition to the editor-in-chief. Julia’s drive and determination
to stop the unrealistic representation of what a female should look like is
truly inspiring.
