"Media's Role in Women's Assessment of Self Image "

Abstract

Women are equal or near equal to men in as far as sheer number is concerned, constituting almost 50% of the world population. However, it is common knowledge that this is where all comparisons end. Women's lives, the social pressures they are subjected to and the compulsions to comply with them are in great measure a contrast to that of men. From the earliest humans, women have been associated with sexuality (Salisbury, 2001). Although modern civilization has brought about socio-economic and political changes women's live and the way women are viewed have changed little. Patriarchal society that we live in even today expects women to achieve certain standards of aesthetics, although it is physically, emotionally and financially costly (Travis & Payne, 2007). Society holds certain beauty myths, and women are condemned for not taking care of themselves, "since it implies defying hierarchy of men in society" (Smolak & Moore, 2001). Media, which is a powerful tool influencing public opinion, has only been propagating these myths. As a result women's body image has undergone a significant change over the years. This has created another form of psych °social control over women. This paper tries to examine the impact of mass media on women's lives in relation to their physical and psychosocial health.