MissRepresentation Pt. II

       Another idea that I found intriguing in the 2011 documentary "MissRepresentation" was how destructive these false expectations are for women of all ages. I knew that numerous of women feel insecure about their bodies and appearances because of the standards model set. We see women on magazine covers and on television with slim, curvy bodies, and although a lot if its photoshopped, everyday women can't help but also feel that they need to match a certain image. However, the movie had listed shocking statistics that I was not aware of. 78% of girls by the age of 17 are unhappy with their bodies. 65% of women have eating disorders. 17% of women have engaged in self-harm. The documentary points out that media portrays women's values and worth to be based solely on their outer looks. This, in turn, leads women to feel subconscious about the way we present ourselves in society, and women become pressured to fit into society's standards of beauty, in order to be deemed "good enough for a man". Women are constantly judged for their height, body types, and the list goes on. These built-up standards of our society will lead to women experiencing many health issues such as anxiety, depression, anorexia, PTSD, etc. It's sickening to me that advertisement companies will continue to sell and push these stereotypes on women, so they can make them anxious. According to the movie, anxiety makes women purchase things to not feel insecure. Also, the sexualization of women in Hollywood has left its impact on our society. It is proven that 20% of women have sex before the age of 14. This was especially surprising to me; I don't think that flaunting your sexuality is needed in order to attain power. There are many other ways for women to gain power in society. I feel like when women do give into these unrealistic expectations of society, the media is winning and making more money.
       It was also interesting for me to learn that just like women, men also have societal standards placed on them. According to "MissRepresentation", men are "emotionally constipated", which means that men are not allowed to show their emotions outwardly in society. They are supposed to show that they are physically and mentally strong, while women are seen as weak. Because men are not supposed to truly express how they feel, it can manifest itself in violent, unhealthy ways. Men can take their frustrations out on others around him and that includes females. It is stated that one in four girls experience sexual abuse.
      Because media has highlighted these stereotypes for many years, it can cause a lot more harm to the members of society than expected. Women and men are more prone to inflicting harm, whether that harm is on themselves or others.