MEDIA, SOCIETY AND MODELS: GOOD OR BAD INFLUENCE?Savannah Sappington

Dr. Moschetta

QUESTION

What do YOU think of when you hear the word model?

CRYSTAL RENN

Size: 2; Age: 14 Size: 8; Age: 24

WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS TOPIC?

After graduation, I plan on going into the beauty industry as a beautician.

I plan to study at Empire Beauty School to get my state cosmetology license and then go back and get my cosmetology instructor certification.

I’ve had friends that look up to movie stars, actresses and models and they’ll do anything to look like them, so I wanted to know why.

THESIS

With all the drama in the beauty industry, the media, society and models can be a positive and negative influence on young women.

They can be a good inspiration, you work flexible hours as a model, and its money.

They also can influence you to obtain an eating disorder and the beauty products commercials make you always second guess yourself.

50’s•Very covered up

•Barely any swimsuit modeling

•Considered risqué for showing too much skin

60’s & 70’s • More freedom

• Women became trendsetters for clothes & physical appearance

80’s• Tighter clothes

• “All-American” girl look was in (blonde hair, blue eyes)

• Exotic looking girls

90’s &00’s• Super skinny runway models returned

• Form-fitting, low cut clothing became more popular

• Models of varying ethnicities made mainstream

• African American models Tyra Banks & Naomi Campbell lead the modeling industry in early 2000’s

PLUS SIZE/FULL FIGURE MODELS AREN’T FULLY ACCEPTED IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT THERE IS MORE ACCEPTANCE FOR CURVIER MODELS. THE MEDIA PORTRAYS PEOPLE WHO GAIN WEIGHT NEGATIVELY.

Sending message that being thin is beautiful and being overweight is ugly.

POSITIVE

Financial Stability

Flexible Hours

Inspiration

NEGATIVE

Beauty Products

Self Esteem

Imitation of Behavior

TOP MODEL

Tyra Banks has apologizedfor showing a commercialfor her hit show Top Modelshowing a girl with adangerously thin waist.

CONCLUSION

I think that the media only affect us in negative ways. I don’t see why someone would want to go into the industry as a model, actress, or anything of that nature because you’re going to be judged on how you look, how you act and who you hang out with.

Most compelling research? Most interesting idea? Satisfied? Future research?