Don't Fall Into the Trap!

TOPIC: The Effect that the Media has on Eating Disorders and Self-Image
            It is a fact, that people view at least three thousand advertisements per day. Advertisers are the most intelligent people in the world. They insinuate themselves into people’s lives by manipulating people’s desires so that the products for sale become the consumer’s best friend. Despite people’s doubts, everyone is influenced by advertising. However, women and girls are at special risks when it comes to the deceiving actions of advertising. For example, women’s bodies are often dismembered in ads, since advertising agencies may only focus on one part of a women’s body. This “toxic” popular culture has driven more and more women to eating disorders. What exactly is causing a drastic rise in eating disorders in women? Is it a complex and multifaceted problem with more than one answer? One possibility may be because girls view more advertisements than men do, or is it because the psychology of women is different than that of men?

Overview: I propose to 1) make women and girls aware of the dangers that arise from advertising, 2) research the statistics of the exact amount of eating disorders, and if those victims feel like magazines or television has impacted them, 3) look at the deceiving tactics and skills that advertising agencies have, 3) research, thoroughly, what Anorexia and Bulimia actually are and 4) research the changing images of women that have been “accepted” by society over prior decades.

MOTIVATION:
   I decided to research this topic thoroughly because I believe that the problem of eating disorders is exponentially rising. I explored the various different causes of eating disorders and the one that struck me as the most interesting, was how the media has affected the rise of eating disorders. Additionally, the media has also impacted women’s distorted vision of their self-image.
   This topic is a significant cause to research because by informing women and girls about the risk that they are at, as a result of the media, in the end, might help to decrease the rising numbers of eating disorders.

QUESTIONS I PLAN ON ADDRESSING:

1. How women models in the media subconsciously affect other women?
2. What were the changing images of women over the past decades?
3. What are exactly are Bulimia and Anorexia?
4. Why are women and young girls more at risk when it comes to being affected by the media, than men?
5. What do girls at Schreiber think affects their self-image?
6. What does a female Schreiber High School student believe the ideal diet is?

PROPOSED CAUSE:

            This semester, I intend to research the facts of the effect that the media has on eating disorders. I will survey students at Schreiber High School, and possibly other schools to obtain a comparison between nearby High School students. Although, I must interview numerous people to receive opinions, I will also explore what other research has been completed, via the internet and books. Moreover, I propose to contact teen magazines to see if there is a particular reason as to why only certain ads appear in their magazines. To make a difference, I can predispose women and young girls to become more aware of the dangers of the media. I will also attempt to explain to them, the dangers of eating disorders and how they arise so they become more observant when affected with certain signs.