The Beauty MythMary MoodySamford UniversityApril 22, 2010

www.hemmy.net

www.hemmy.net

www.hemmy.net

www.celebritydirtylaundry.com

Anja Rubik

www.showhype .com

www.hemmy.net

www.hemmy.net

www.hemmy.net

What’s the BIG deal?

•Present presumed picture of real women/men▫Public sees great disparity between the

image they see in the mirror and that which they see in the magazine

And this creates problems…

•Rise in eating disorders▫11 million women & 1 million men

•Rise in cosmetic surgeries- most notably among teens▫$13 billion per year in cosmetic surgery

Source: www.elixirnews.com

So, what can we do about it?

•Provide educational opportunities▫Through the public school system▫Through the media

•Labeling system▫Small insignia in bottom right-hand corner

Education in Schools

•Create programs that will encourage kids to become critical, informed media watchers▫Easy as showing a before and after picture that

has been digitally altered

•These programs should be as prominent as anti-smoking and under-aged drinking campaigns.▫150,000 women die each year of eating

disorders

Girl Scout Curriculum

Through guided activities, health and beauty information, quizzes, and tips, the book guides girls to think critically about their concepts of beauty.

www.girlscoutshop.com

Education in the Media

• Create more media campaigns which celebrate the physical variation of women and men

• Have a correct portrayal of the American populace▫ Most advertisements only

show one body type

The Dove Campaign

A Labeling System

•Currently no real regulatory provision for digitally edited photos

•Labeling system would just let the public know that these images have been manipulated to some degree

Why NOT for airbrushing?

All in All…

• Because of airbrushing and other digital methods, advertisers have created a standard of beauty that is genetically impossible.

• Unreachable paradigm= devastating results

• Body dissatisfaction, Eating disorders and rates of Cosmetic Surgery are at an all time high

For a brighter future…

•Implement educational opportunities through the media and public schooling

• Create a labeling system so the public can identify the pictures which have been labeled

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