Body Image: Introduction
Body image concerns have been documented in children as young as three,[2] but it’s adolescents who appear to be most at risk for developing unhealthy attitudes towards their bodies based on this perception.
Body image concerns have been documented in children as young as three,[2] but it’s adolescents who appear to be most at risk for developing unhealthy attitudes towards their bodies based on this perception.
There’s significant evidence that media education can counter unrealistic media representations of men’s and women’s bodies. For example, a 2015 study found that girls as young as Grade 5 who had received media literacy education in school had higher self-esteem and body satisfaction.
Various media analysts and researchers argue that media portrayals of male characters fall within a range of stereotypes.
In 2017, a research group discovered that what boys are seeing in the media and what they actually believe are vastly different.
Women professionals and athletes continue to be under-represented in news coverage, and are often stereotypically portrayed when they are included.
Sports media also contributes to the construction of masculinity in contemporary society.