With the female teenage population being exposed to these social networking platforms, it is almost inevitable that they are then exposed to the thin-ideal body image; The thin-ideal body image is what is portrayed through the media as the ideal body image of a woman, being tall and thin (Chang and Lee 204). In other words, the standard to which this demographic is taught resembles societal pressures. This appearance-focused lifestyle that social media platforms permit, at times, encourage, can give these females the impression that their self-worth is based on their appearance. Consequently, self-worth tends to be lowered if they do not match up with societal ideals (Forbes 202). A logical solution to this problem would be to normalize plus-size models; Considering the ideal body size is unattainable for most women, since 40% of women in the world are overweight and 5% are obese (Clayton 207). The research that will be outlined throughout this analysis is not limited to the United States; Instead, it compares American ideals to other cultures around the world such as Argentinean, Brazilian, and Japanese ideals. To combat these health concerns, retailers are taking a stand to fight the traditionally thin ideal by incorporating average or plus-size models into their social media campaigns, which is essentially helping cure th
e thin-ideal body image (Clayton 207). Essentially, the epidemic of body dissatisfaction for the female youth is derived from mainstream media. A realistic solution would be to expose these girls to more body-positive aspects of society and fashion. Fortunately, simply by normalizing plus-size models and raising awareness, the problem can become limited and less widespread. Alike other issues that are happening in society, it is easier said than done.
Most young girls grow up watching Disney princess movies; A stereotypical youth activity for most girls. Every princess character portrayed is slim and tall with an extremely tiny waist. This is potentially the first encounter these girls have with thin thin-ideal that society presents adolescents with. Researchers report that some children as young as five years old are concerned about their weight (Hayes 200). Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that some children are aware of the thin ideal that exists and can identify dieting as a type of method to attain the ideal body (Hayes 200). This is crucial in understanding the weight of this topic; Since the awareness of this stereotype begins at such a young age and is then present with these individuals throughout their life. Once an individual has a dissatisfied body image, it is then hard to overcome this internal battle.