Poster children for fashion or poster children for eating disorders? You decide... http://www.actnow.com.au/Opinion/Body_image_and_the_media.aspx Sun, 20 Aug 2006 08:35:14 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://rss-net.sf.net/ Thanks for writing the article Jess. The "media" isn't really to blame since it is just a channel of communication, but I believe it is the companies that sell lifestyle and image products who are responsible and should be held accountable for proliferating these harmful body image values. I have studied creative advertising and the sad truth is that advertisers deliberately create these role models for consumers to feel inadequate about themselves, furthermore, they purposely create these unrealistic body images to be unachievable, so that consumers will always be driven to consume more and more. Take it back one step further and it is the manufacturers of lifestyle products who are responsible for approving and funding these campaigns. Why are trashy magazines and mainstream TV programs also proliferating this negative image? Because they are funded by the same advertisers. To identify these companies and brands you only need to flick through a magazine and look at the ads. Hannah is right that we shouldn't blame the media. It's easy to identify the real culprits and also easy for us to take action by boycotting these magazines, shows and products! Sun, 20 Aug 2006 08:35:14 GMT jess ...love your work! such an awesome piece of work xx u really know how to get the reader to keep reading on! keep up the good work Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:24:05 GMT Jess, awesome article! I agree with you on so many points! You should check out our FREE online magazine for young women that is put together by volunteers - FRANK magazine. FRANK is ad-free, diet-free, celebrity-free, stupid-free! The only women we put up on pedestals are everyday amazing chicks doing great things for themselves and their communities. Plus FRANK is an intelligent, fun, healthy magazine to read with heaps of interesting reads about travel, books, profiles, opportunities, real issues and much more... check it out at http://www.frankmag.com.au Mon, 14 Aug 2006 04:32:28 GMT Wow! What an awesome read! Thank you :D Fit rather than thin...that's the way it SHOULD be. Sun, 13 Aug 2006 07:13:57 GMT Jess, That was an awesome article - so spot on. Good work you did a great job! Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:44:22 GMT Absolutely agree, some great points! Everyone should be healthy rather than skinny! :) Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:25:45 GMT You're so right! Bring back the days where rolls of fat were seen as hot as they symbolised money...actually maybe we should just find a happy medium? Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:25:42 GMT That was insightful, Jess. You are a really strong and empowered woman and I am extremely grateful that you are representing our demographic. Peace. Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:23:44 GMT Jess, you highlighted some great points. Why are we so fascinated with celebrity downfall? I guess its all about our own insecurities. In a society where celebrities represent glamour and success its extremely comforting to find out about the darker side of being famous. Just a thought....I think we are too quick to blame the media for eating disorders / body image issues....we have to take responsibility and stop buying into this stuff. Celebrity/teen magazines can't exist if we stop buying them....... Hannah. Fri, 04 Aug 2006 05:05:14 GMT