Beauty…Is it only
skin deep?
Cultural and Media Messages Their Affect on Adolescents (Girls)
Kelly Schaefer
University of Phoenix - EDU 566
June 3, 2009
Today’s Society
(Introduction)
Society presents adolescents today with many
pressures to look good.
Teen beauty is something that affects both girls and
boys as they grow to accept themselves.
The media is full of models and superstars with
beautiful faces that add stress to those growing up.
These societal views and images can be seen daily
through ads, musical lyrics, and popular fashion
magazines.
Magazines
and
Newsstands
Even with trips to the Walgreen's or the grocery store,
magazine’s headline stories about losing weight or the top
10 beauty secrets.
They feature articles and tips on how to get that perfect
“glowing skin” or the latest celeb diets
Teens are subjected to this material just through headlines
to look inside and this causes them to think about their
own image in comparison to what these articles say.
Getting the “new look” and losing weight in a certain
amount of time, encourage young girls to think they
should be doing this and that their bodies are not
acceptable.
Fashion Models and
Actresses
 Taller, thinner, and younger
 Exposed to sexual photo shoots that are displayed for
young girls with manipulation to body size and
appearance.
 Popular television shows such as 90210 and Gossip Girl
feature teen actresses that weigh less 120 lbs, wear the
latest and most expensive clothes, and have blemish
free faces.
 Many times adolescents don’t take into account the
life of these stars and the roles they play. They assume
all girls should be this small to famous or popular
because these are they type of girls displayed in
movies and tv programs.
 Movies and television promote the “skinny” image by
choosing these type of actresses as the main
characters is almost all films.
Malls and Fashion Stores
Manikins, models, and store posters show the perfect, thin, girl that
wears that store’s clothing and accessories
Stores emphasize small sizes that are 0,2,4,6. Many teen stores run
small in sizes so girls feel over weight if they don’t wear their normal
size.
Many cosmetic companies in the mall push makeovers and their
products on girls who walk by.
Places like Glamour Shots, where teens and young women can get
their pictures taken with lots of of make-up, hair done up, and sexy
outfits show that is okay for girls to take on this image.
Drugstores/Ads
These ideas stress that the way you
look defines who you are as a person.
Maybelline - “maybe she’s born with
it” - Gives girls the idea that their
makeup can make them look as
good as the girls in the ad or famous
teens.
Pressure girls into thinking they can
always look better with their new
product.
Weightless products suggest that it is
okay to put harmful chemicals into
our body that do not really affect our
weight or image; they just cost
money.
Drugstores sell many over the counter
drugs that all ages may buy, which
should not be allowed.
Social Cognitive Approach
This approach discusses how people learn to behavior towards
each other, that people know what to expect from each other,
and how people have a right to personal preference (Rice &
Dolgin, 2005).
The media images and messages my cause adolescents to turn
against their parents and wear make-up or revealing clothing,
which they see as acceptable from the media. However
parents disagree.
Although adolescents do weigh personal, moral and social
views, the media may over power these and encourage certain
types of musical, clothing, and beauty values.
Cognitive Development
Theories
A child’s gender is determined at birth and from then on they
learn to do what is socially acceptable for boys or girls.
From this point on, gender influences how adolescent's feel
about themselves and how others see them(Rice & Dolgin,
2005).
 This is impacted by the media because they display a
perfect body image and ways men or women should
look.
Cultures establish gender identities that cause boys and girls
to feel like need to meet this beauty expectations.
Gender stereotypes them form and that is how magazine
ads and articles about makeup and losing weight target
adolescents growing up who want to fit it and be beautiful.
Gender Schema Theory
A gender theory that emphasizes the stages of labeling,
attention, and interest. (Rice & Dolgin,2005)
This causes children to pay more attention to genderappropriate objects and behaviors
The media in turn gets their attention through beauty
products, magazine articles, and famous actors and
actresses.
 This theory impacts adolescents by suggesting to them that
what they are presented with in society, through television,
and is movies is the ideal beauty and body.
Impact on Adolescent
Development
I think that media sends negative messages to adolescents about
beauty. They are constantly subjected to adds, sayings, and
articles about using products to become beautiful or new diets that
will give them the perfect weight. Adolescents already have live up
to their peers judgment and acceptance and then the media adds
a whole new image that they want to achieve. These messages
leave both girls and boys feeling not good enough and so insecure
that they have no self-esteem. Not only does it become a mental
struggle for some teens to be beautiful and perfect, but also a
physical problem that leads to eating disorders and depression. The
normal and true beauty look is no longer embraced be media.
They encourage young members of our society that we must weigh
a certain amount and use certain beauty products to accepted
and loved, which is the opposite of how we want our adolescents
to feel. As teachers we need to encourage our students to love
themselves for who they are accept their natural born beauty!
Conclusion
In today’s society, the media plays an important role in shaping the
ideas and thoughts about beauty of many adolescents,
especially girls. These ideas have caused an increase in
depression, loss of self-esteem, and unhealthy eating habits of
teens across the country. It is rare to see an ad or article that
appreciates the “normal” woman figure. This leads to to girls
comparing themselves to others and the want and need to
impress the opposite sex.
Although my presentation centered on female’s, males are also
subjected to these beauty images and ideas. Large, muscular
men emphasize male dominance. A lot of adolescent males are
subjected to rigorous workout routines and steroid abuse to
obtain this body type.
References
Dolgin, K. G., & Rice, P.F. (2005). The Adolescent:
Development, Relationships, and Culture, (11th ed).
Chapter8: Self-Concept, Identity, Ethnicity, and Gender.
Retrieved from
https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary/content/e
Reader.h
Dolgin, K. G., & Rice, P.F. (2005). The Adolescent:
Development, Relationships, and Culture, (11th ed).
Chapter14: The Development of Moral Values. Retrieved
from
https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary/content/e
Reader.h