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Essay / The Effects of Media on Women's Self-Esteem - 1186
In 2001, actress Kate Winslet sparked controversy following a statement she made about her weight. She told the British Radio Times she had to lose weight "otherwise I won't work". She was referring to the nearly fifty pounds she gained during her pregnancy, but fans were still upset by the famous curvy actress's confession. Then, in 2003, Winslet shocked fans and critics when she expressed disgust over GQ magazine's digitally slimmed photos of her (Tauber, 2001). The most recent criticism of Winslet was in 2008. She appeared in Vanity Fair magazine looking slightly thinner than normal, and many people judged Winslet for her hypocrisy. Winslet's rep said she wasn't airbrushed to look thinner, that's what she looked like, and she wouldn't have agreed to take the photos if it didn't. had not been in his conditions (Norman, 2008). Why has there been such controversy over photos of Kate Winslet? Television, movies, magazines and advertisements are all full of smiling faces and almost unattainable beauty. This sends the message to young girls that they must be perfect to be happy in life. By allowing the media to send young girls the message that they must be perfect, serious problems arise in their bodies and minds. Discussing examples of media depicting unattainable beauty, the effects it can have on young girls, and ways to prevent these terrible effects is necessary to understand this phenomenon. Most girls played with a Barbie doll growing up. But Barbie dolls are another example of the image of unattainable beauty that is imposed on young girls. If Barbie were a real woman, her head would be the same circumference as her height, so she would only be... middle of paper... that's not the case” (Monroe, 2011). Maybe she was onto something great. Works cited Campaign for a true beauty mission. (March 14, 2008). Retrieved from http://www.dove.us/#/CFRB/arti_CFRB.aspx[cp-documentid=7049726]Mayo Clinic. (2011). Eating disorders. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.comMonroe, M. (2011). Marilyn Monroe Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/82952.Miaryn_MonroeNorman, P. (November 4, 2008). Kate Winslet is 'furious' over body airbrushing allegations. People, retrieved from http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20237699,00.htmlPage, S. (nd). What if Barbie was a real woman? Retrieved from http://www.peacelovelunges.com/sports-fitness/ask-sam/what-if-barbie-were-a-real-woman/ Tauber, M. (April 2, 2001). Learning curves. People, retrieved from http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134022,00.html