Ballard 1

Taylor Ballard
Mrs. Hensel
English IV
September 24, 2015
Annotated Bibliography: Body Image
Question: How does the media affect ones body image?
Thesis: The media affects body image by causing low self-esteem, eating disorders, and mental
problems.
Rhodes, Constance. "Pro-Anorexia Web Sites Put Young People at Danger." Anorexia. Ed.
Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from "Pro-Anorexia
Websites." CPYU-Center for Parents and Youth Understanding, 2007. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
Constance Rhodes article describes the different ways that the media can effect young
peoples body image and eating disorders. With the use of internet, pro-eating disorder websites
have gotten popular and they include harmful images, quotes, and encouragement to keep
harming their bodies. A lot of these websites sexually objectify womens bodies by posting
photos of womens bodies and using nudity as thinspiration. Some websites have chat options
where the user can get advice from others on how to stay distracted from eating. Some of the
users will write long, psalm-like texts that include sentences about how they need to stay on
track and that they are disgusting if they eat. A lot of the websites have a dark background with
a reversed out text color to give it a more depressing feel. These websites are usually made by
young girls who are struggling themselves.

Ballard 2

Cruz, Jamie Santa. "Body-Image Pressure Increasingly Affects Boys." The Atlantic. Atlantic
Media Company, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Jamie Cruzs article states that half of men who are concerned about their weight care
mainly about gaining muscle, about a third are concerned about muscle and thinness, and less
than 15% are concerned about thinness. Media shows that men are supposed to have a muscular
body that can lead them to use steroids, over-exercise, and abuse drugs and alcohol in order to
lose weight and gain muscle. A 2012 study showed that both middle and high school males
admitted to developing behaviors to enhance muscle. The overuse of steroids can lead to serious
problems like; depression, rage attacks, suicidal tendencies, and cardiomyopathies. Females
usually use unhealthy means to lose weight while men will do go to unhealthy lengths to gain
weight most of the time.

"Media Exposure and the "Perfect" Body." Psychology Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
The article states that eating disorders in adolescents are linked to bullying and the rise of
altering images to make the models have unrealistic bodies. Those who have bigger bodies are
often ridiculed in the media and in regular everyday life. Women are expected to get thinner
while men are expected to bulk up and gain muscle. Adolescents are more vulnerable to being
affected by the media in the body changes they go through during puberty.