Media and Self-Esteem

1. Why do you think people are portrayed this way in the media?


In our world today,  I think people are portrayed a certain way in the media to help sell more of their products.  Without someone looking absolutely amazing for their advertisements, no one would be willing to even look twice at what they have to offer.  Since everyone wants to look amazing like the people in the advertisements, they would buy their product to help them  look flawless. 


2. How are you affected by the images you see?


Of course when i see these images, it makes me want to try out the products and see if it works but I know I won't exactly look like the people in the advertisements.  The images that i see everywhere can lower my self esteem a bit but it doesn't ruin my day or make me do certain things to be the person in the advertisements.  In everyone's mind, I think they all want to be that perfect someone that looks amazing all the time,  but no one can always look that incredible.  Plus at the end of the day, i think everyone loves who they are and what they have.  I am always thankful for every part of me even if it isn't perfect.  I believe everyone is perfect and unique in their own way.  


3. What can be done to reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by these images??


I think a way to reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by these images is to stop using Photoshop to make people feel like they are expected to look a certain way.   There should be no editing to change how someone should look because after editing everything about that person to make them look "perfect", that image of them isn't even who they are anymore.  There is no perfect someone, but there is always beauty.  


4.  What would your reaction be to a magazine cover where the subject isn't all glammed up?  Is this a possible route that society should take? Why or why not? 


I think my reaction towards the magazine cover where the subject when it isn't all glammed up would be "WOW! This is the real deal!! (: " Yes, i think it is a possible route that society could take because  it would be a change for people's eyes to see a normal person with no edit or touch up by an advice on a computer but as they notice it more often, they will realize that this person on the cover is a way better role model that someone "perfect".  It can be someone that they look up to and not doubt themselves because they don't look like the someone on a magazine cover.