AMBER - Representation of young people in the media

The 21st century is said to be the age of image. It is argued that the most 'important' thing in today's society is the way that we look. No matter how much we try to deny it, everyone is somewhat conscious of their image. Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered if your hair looks ok today? Or ever said that stereotypical line from women "does my bum looks big in this?" We all do, and no wonder when everyday we are faced with images of beautiful perfect size 8 models and attractive men with six packs and ridiculously large pecs.

 ^ A male model and the famous athlete Louis Smith. People like this are always in the media's eye making young men feel that having a body like this means that you will be more attractive.

 ^ A female model and the celebrity Rhianna. Everyday we see pictures of beautiful women like these through out all platforms of the media. It leads young women and teenage girls to believe that being this thin and pretty is the 'norm' and that they need to look like this in order to be liked and accepted by the scrutinising eyes of the public.

Be it on the TV, in magazines or on posters, we are bombarded with images of the way that we 'should' look. The media is to blame for this because it is drummed into our heads from a young age that we need to look a particular way to be accepted. Even as children we are given perfect looking Barbie dolls and Action Men to play with that we inspire to be like. Celebrities also have a big impact on how we view ourselves because with inspirational people such Louis Smith and Rhinna featured everywhere, we are forever looking up to people like them and inspiring to be like them.

Women -

The concepts of the way women are represented in the media may have it's good selling points, however, it also does have it's bad affects on the public that take place behind closed doors. There is an immense pressure of teenage girls to look a certain way. Who can blame us, with pictures of 'perfect' woman plastered all across every media platform, we can't ignore it. 

"The Pressure To Be Perfect"

 Being a teenage girl myself I have felt first hand the pressure from the media, as have all girls. The rate of girls with eating disorders has raised and the main cause of this is because we are faced with images of stick thin size 0 models everywhere and some vulnerable and naive girls can believe that being that thin is the only way to be prefect. Even if we don't think we are being directly affected by the media, we are all being subconsciously influenced and there's no getting away from the pressure to be perfect.