Perfect Disorder

The Perfect Disorder

Americas obsession with the perfect body started with advertising popular toys,

TV shows and on the big screen in movies. Barbie Doll, actresses such as Victoria

Beckam and Lindsay Lohan, reality TV shows like Extreme Makeover and super hero

action figures with their busty chests and super slim waists have shaped what America

considers beautiful. The average size of the American woman is a 12. But in Hollywood,

it is much smaller at a 0-2. Even Marilin Monroe would be considered plus-sized in

todays society, she was a 12. This is the example Americas youth have to look at for the

"ideal body". This ultimately leads to eating disorders and low self esteem among the

young generations. Putting an oddly proportionate Barbie in a little girls hand definitely

has a effect on how she views her own body.

The American woman in todays society can never be too thin or too pretty. In

most cases, being thin equals being beautiful. We see magazines stuffed full of

advertisements and models, actresses on TV and billboards on the side of the highway

that send the message of what American women should look like. The presence of these

images greatly effect the image of women today. Advertisers manipulate women into

thinking that their self worth is dependent on their physical appearance. Through

advertising, women are given the message that if they just work hard enough, they too

will be beautiful, thin and more likable. And in turn they will be happier. They are also

led to believe that if they work on their bodies, their personal and professional lives will

be rewarded.

This "ideal" also leads to the concern with the growing number of teenagers

effected by eating disorders. Young adults aren't getting their information from their

parents like was common twenty years ago. The TV has become one of the most

influential technologies available, and in turn, it has replaced real role models and

teachers. The media teaches them what is "in"and what is beautiful. The TV has now

more influence on America's children than their parents do. And the sad thing is that the

public as a whole is aware of this manipulation. They all know that to be as thin as the

people on TV is nearly impossible, but we all strive to somehow be that way. This is

where eating disorders come in to play. The average American woman weighs 144

pounds. And the average model in the U.S. weighs 23% less than that (110 lbs.) Many

body frames are not meant to be that small. The thing about eating disorders is that the

social requirement that we achieve the "ideal weight" is based on the presumption

that we can all control our body size, which is absolutely not true.

Many stars in Hollywood have suffered from an eating disorder brought on by

this glorified "ideal". American Idol judge Paula Abdul battled bulimia when she was

younger and this problem escalated to the point where she checked herself into

treatment in 1994. Pinup girls and model sisters, Sia and Shane Barbi ( The Barbie

Twins) have battled bulimia and anorexia in the past. Victoria Beckham on ABC"s

20/20 in 2003 was quoted in saying, " I was very obsessed. I mean, I could tell you

the fat