Ellen Talks about Body Image

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGqtMt0zISQ

Body Image in the Hospital

I had a very interesting conversation with a patient I had today. People usually come into the hospital when they feel like complete crap, which usually brings their self esteem about their body image down. Well, I had a women who came in straight from her. A coworker brought her in, who was a guy. She was telling me how ugly she felt because her hair wasn't combed, she had no make up in, and she was swollen in many places from her different surgeries she had. She had me do her hair and help her get cleaned up just for this guy to come visit her. She made a comment that really hit me... she said "What's the point of allowing people to come visit me in the hospital when I look like this. I spend so much time making myself look the way I do in the mornings in order to make me feel confident about myself, just for it all to go to waste when I get admitted to the hospital". This just shows how many people can't stand going a day with out spending over an hour getting ready in the morning.

Hidden Messages

Women and men are targeted in the media all the time about their bodies and we don't even see it. We look at these covers of magazines and read the articles on how Kim Kardashian got thin after her baby or how to get the perfect summer body, and try to get the bodies that they suggested to us. We are being pressured into being thin by the media everyday, through magazines, ads, and commercials. The media is shaping the way we think about ourselves. If we didn't have these constant reminders about how we need to be thin, women and men would be more confident about their bodies. How do you feel about seeing this on our magazine covers? Do you feel differently about this topic? Do these magazine covers influence your decisions about your body image?

Body Image Video

Comment your thoughts on this video. I couldn't agree more with the message they are trying to get across. 
https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/vb.160389977329803/1020470181321774/?type=2&theater

Facts about Media influence on Body Image

• 69% of girls in 5th – 12th grades reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
• Following the viewing of images of female fashion models, seven out of ten women felt more depressed and angrier than prior to viewing the images – Rader Programs
• 80% of women who answered a People magazine survey responded that images of women on television and in the movies make them feel insecure – Rader Programs
• The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
• An average US woman is 5’4” tall weighing 140 pounds; the average US model is 5’11” weighing 117 pounds – West Virginia Dept of Education

These are some very upsetting true facts about how media portrays women's body image. Please comment with your reactions to these facts.

Found at: https://www.justsayyes.org/topics/self-image-media-influences/

Much love,

Keri&Erin

Facts About Self Image

• 40% of all 9 and 10-year-old girls have already been on a diet – Duke University
• 70% of 6-12-year-olds want to be thinner – National Eating Disorders Association
• In one study, 3 out of 4 women stated that they were overweight although only 1 out of 4 actually were – Rader Programs
• While only one out of ten high school girls are overweight, nine out of ten high school juniors and seniors diet – Rader Programs
• A study found that adolescent girls were more fearful of gaining weight than getting cancer, nuclear war or losing their parents – Rader Programs

It's sad to think that when I was reading these facts, they really didn't surprise me at all! Have we just become use to this "perfect" ideal image of ourselves where we constantly have to worry about our weight and what others think? I'm interested in hearing what you thought when reading these facts! Found at: https://www.justsayyes.org/topics/self-image-media-influences/

Much Love,
Erin&Keri

Survey About Our Readers

Please take time to take this short survey about yourself. http://www.questionpro.com/t/AMDBfZUfeW

Thank you for your time,

Erin&Keri

Beyonce's New Clothing Line: Body Image

Beyonce has started a new clothing line called "Ivy Park" for women. She wants women to feel comfortable in their own skin and love their bodies for the way they are. With her new line she wants to support and inspire women. This is a positive outcome because she is trying to change the way media views women's bodies.Go to this link to read the article about Beyonce's new clothing line and her plans for it. Post your thoughts and comments on the article and about her new line! http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/30595/1/beyonce-launches-activewear-line-called-ivy-park

Much Love,

Erin&Keri

Our Story

We both grew up in a small town together where everyone knew everyone. We attended the same high school and now are currently attending the same college at UW-Waukesha. We started this blog as a class project for our women's studies course. We hope to have a positive effect on women in general especially our community. Our high school only had about 300 total students making it a challenge to keep a high self esteem. Because of this we had a hard time fitting in with the "popular" girls. They would constantly be judging others and would make girls feel very self conscious. This lead to a lot of issues with body image, and self confidence. We wanted to make this blog because we want girls to feel like they are not alone, and this is a place where they can come and share their current issues or problems they have had in the past. We also want to inform women about how the media portrays women and ways in which they can over come this issue.

Much Love,
Erin&Keri

Welcome

Do You feel insecure, anxious, and doubtful about your body image?

We are two college students who experienced the struggles and peer pressure of social media and the way media portrays the perfect body image.

We are focusing on the way women, ages 13-20 view themselves and how media portrays them. We are focusing primarily on your physical appearance, how you feel about yourself, and how you should present yourself, also the dangers of eating disorders women go through to achieve the perfect body image. We picked ages 13-20 because we feel that these ages are where women are pressured most about their appearance and your bodies.

We would like to make awareness to this age group about how media and society portrays them both physically and mentally about their body image. In today’s media, women are viewed as sex objects and are being forced to spend increased attention on their bodies, because of the way they appear. We would like to inform women about the issues that they encounter every day and how media and society influences and impacts their decisions. 

We look forward to making a difference on the way you feel about your bodies. We are excited to hear about your personal experiences and thoughts about women's bodies. 

Thank you,

Erin and Keri