Effects of the Media on Young Women

Nicole Ruben TRF 235 January 31, 2012 LIRWA The Effects of the Media on Young Women Women seen in the media are typically gorgeous, thin, and flawless. Seeing these characteristics promotes an unrealistic body type that many girls strive to have. What this does is lower the self-esteem of these girls, ultimately leading to unhealthy eating habits and disorders. A study done by Harvard researcher Anne Becker demonstrated this by examining the effects of television in Fiji. Television was introduced in Fiji in 1995. At this time, only three percent of girls there reported they vomited to control their weight.However, three years later, fifteen percent of girls reported they acquired the same behavior. The culture in Fiji generally promotes eating healthy and looking robust, so this is considered a dramatic change in behavior for a culture that encourages the opposite (Corydon, 1). Another factor consider when looking at eating disorders caused by the media is that twenty years ago, mod els weight eight percent less than the average woman. Today, they weigh twenty-three percent less (Media-Awareness, 1). Sexualization is another effect the media has on young girls.An article by BBC News defines sexualization as â€Å"occurring when a person’s value comes only from her or his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is portrayed purely as a sex object. † Television shows such as Gossip Girl and other shows similar to Gossip Girl substantially consist of sexual content. A large percentage of the viewers of these shows are young girls who look up to the characters they see on television. When they see their role models dressing and acting the way they do, they want to do the same.One study found that adolescents who have seen a lot of media with sexual content were more than twice as likely as others to have had sex by the time they were sixteen (TIME). Furthermore, many songs heard on the radio appeal to yo ung girls, but the lyrics are not suitable for them. Katy Perry’s hit song â€Å"Last Friday Night† acts as a quintessential example of this. Some of the lyrics say, â€Å"Last Friday night / We went streaking in the park / Skinny dipping in the dark / Then had a menage-a-trois†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The outfits Katy Perry wears in her music videos, at her concerts, and on her posters also contribute to the sexualization of young girls.In her â€Å"California Girls† music video she wore a provocative bikini-like outfit with cans attached to her breasts that were shooting out whipped cream. As a role model to many young girls, Katy Perry has the power to be very influential in their lives; however, it seems as though she is going about it the wrong way. The media can also influence many girls to start using drugs and alcohol at a young age. Similar to sexualization, drugs and alcohol are presented in many television shows and other forms of media.Young girls want to fit in with what they see in the media, so when they see their favorite characters on their favorite TV shows doing drugs they are likely to want to do the same. They are not doing it because they are interested in trying drugs and alcohol; they are merely doing it because they think it is the cool thing to do. Many magazines also have stories about celebrities going to rehab, getting belligerently drunk, etc. Although it is likely that an adolescent may stay away from a certain drug if they see their role model has had a negative experience with it, they are likely to do the drug if they don’t see any disadvantages to it.For example, a video of Miley Cyrus doing salvia went viral in 2010. It showed her hysterical laughing from the drug and hallucinating from it, making her think that her boyfriend was in front of her, even though he wasn’t. The video essentially made the drug look appealing. Being a Disney star, it can be debated that Miley Cyrus is even more of a role mo del to young girls than Katy Perry. If her young fans see her doing this, they are likely to want to follow. Commercials also influence drug use in adolescents. For example, the intention of beer commercials is to make beer look appealing.Jay leno was once asked why he does commercials for Doritos corn chips but refuses to do beer commercials. â€Å"You don’t see dead teenagers on the highway because of corn chips† was his answer (Singer, 415). In today’s society, the media affects young girls in many negative ways. It causes eating disorders, sexualization, and the use of drugs and alcohol. Seeing flawless women all over the media lowers the self-esteem of the average girl, which can ultimately lead to disorders such as depression, bulimia, and anorexia. Television shows and songs with provocative material encourage adolescents to behave more suggestively.This includes dressing and acting provocatively and taking part in the use of drugs and alcohol. There is s omething that should be done about these detrimental effects of the media, possibly teaching children about understanding how the media works or decreasing the accessibility of explicit content to children. Is it really possible to prevent adolescents from being exposed to such content as much as they are? Will the effects of such content get worse in the future? These are questions to think about as the media not only affects our society today, but it will affect societies and generations to come.Works Cited â€Å"BBC NEWS | Health | Sexualisation ‘harms' Young Girls. † BBC News – Home. BBC News, 20 Feb. 2007. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. . â€Å"Beauty and Body Image in the Media. † Media Awareness Network | Reseau education Medias. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. . Ireland, Corydon. â€Å"Fijian Girls Succumb to Western Dysmorphia | Harvard Gazette. † Home – Harvard Public Affairs & Communications. 19 Mar. 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. . Luscombe, Belinda. â€Å"The Truth About Teen Girls. † TIME Magazine 11 Sept. 2008. Print. Max, Martin. Mckee, Bonnie. Perry, Katy. (2011). Last Friday Night. [Recorded by Katy Perry]. On Last Friday Night (T. G. I. F. ). United States: Capitol Records. Pozniak, Alexa. â€Å"Part 1: Media Portrayal of Drugs. † ABC News. ABC News Network, 23 Feb. 2002. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. . Singer, Dorothy G. Singer, Jerome L. (2001). â€Å"Handbook of Children in the Media. † Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc.

Enforcement of a 4 Day School Day Essay

Have you ever thought of having a 4 day weekday rather than a 5 day weekday, instead of that short 2 day of relaxation you gain another day to rest off that stress filled body to the luxurious sofa sitting at your house? Well some work places incorporated a 4 day weekend instead of the typical 5 day weekend and I feel as if we, the teachers and students, equally deserve a 3 day weekend, but there’s a catch. The regular school day would be increased by 2 hours but we should want to decrease the amount of stress school gives us for these reasons, the lack of sleep kids already have, less cost of the utilities used in school, lessened suicide rate. First of all, an important fact is a teenager of the current generation gets a poor amount of sleep. The national health society states that a teenager should have a total of 9 hours and 20 minutes of sleep to perform at their best in school but in reality a student stacked with AP classes, sport, or a job gets far less than the nation al level. The average amount of sleep a teenager gets is under 5 hours for 25% of college and high school students which correlates with decreased performance that they show at school. Some schools in the U.S. has already tried this and one teacher at Chatnooga High School said,† The kids are more attentive because they realize there is much less time so they come in and do it.† Another great reason why we should have a 4 day weekend is a dramatic decrease in the cost of utility. Schools in Georgia saved an average of $800,000 on utility since there is a less need of transportation going back and forth from academy classes, and to drive students back and forth from school. From the slightest of restrooms being flushed, trim of transportation, and janitorial costs the school would save a dramatic amount of money and find the extra funds they need to fund school sports or school clubs if needed. And last but not least, lessening in suicide rate, the current suicide rate is at a new high in America but would dramatically decrease with a 3 day weekend. Kids would have more time to to hang out with their friends or find other fun thing to do such as an internship or volunteer around at hospitals. Due to the increase in time kids would be able to ration their homework that they were given to a slower rate or finish it all and have more time to hang out with their peers. The stress caused from school would not have a huge toll which was a huge factor in suicide. They would also have more time to talk to other such as friends about their personal problems and their friends in retrospective would have more free time to be able to talk to his/her friend and give him or her a serious answer instead of the teenager regular nod of the head or a shrug. In reality kids would gain a more beneficiary advantage for school from a 4 day school day rather than the current 5 day due to more sleep gained, lowered cost of utility, and lessened suicide rate.

College admission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

College admission - Essay Example As I watch my ball roll onto the green, I feel like I could do anything. When I play a hole, playing under par, there is no feeling like it in the world. Of course, golf is not always about great feelings. This game has taught me patience. Sometimes, especially on public courses, rude golfers do not let faster players play through. It can be frustrating waiting on a slow golfer. My patience is also tested when I hit the ball into the water, woods, or a bunker. I usually just take the penalty instead of hitting the ball out of the sand or woods. My patience is also used on my fellow friends who golf. Some of them are only casual golfers, so they joke around and drink beer on the course. This can be irritating when I am having a bad day. I really do not like the distraction, but try to be patient and hold my tongue. Another aspect of my golf experience is losing. I have become a graceful loser, but it is hard. I really hate to lose by one or two strokes. When I lose, I replay the game over and over in my head. Generally the next time, I try to improve my game. I find this productive, instead of getting angry and throwing a fit. I like to watch golf tournaments. The masters like Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and others inspire me to perfect my form. Even though I know that I will never be in their league, I try to learn from them. It is amazing some of the shots that the pros make. I watch the Masters, PGA tour, and recently the Ryder cup like others watch football and wrestling. Golf is also another way for me to get a work out. The physical aspect of the sport makes me feel good. Sometimes with school and my other activities it is hard to get outside and be physical. I like to be active as much as possible. Golf allows this to happen. I think it is important to have a way to relax. Golf allows this to happen. I think I will be a better student, because I have found a way to reduce my stress level.

Genghis Khan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Genghis Khan - Research Paper Example Temujin had three brothers namely Khasar, Tumuge and Khajiun, and a sister referred to Temulen. He also had two half brothers Belgutei and Bekhter. Temujin early life just like the other Mongolian tribes was not an easy one. When Temujin was at the age of nine years, his father took him to his mother’s tribe in the neighbourhood where he was required to work for several years so that he could earn himself a bride named Borje. While his father was returning home, he was poisoned by the Tatars tribe as he had a meal with them. The Tatar tribe had been enemies of the Mongolians for a long time. After the death of Temujin’s father, Temujin returned to his homeland to take after his father’s position among the Khans. However, his father’s tribe refused to be led by a young boy but instead Yesukhei’s two windows and seven children were expelled by their father’s clan. (cultural-china.com, 2010) Hoelun and her family were left without protection and for the next several years, lived in poverty and survived by feeding on roots, fish and rodents which were hunted by Temujin and his brothers. Temujin’s mother tried all she could do to keep her family together after they were expelled by the family patriarchy when her husband died. Hoelun taught Temujin skills which were needed to survive in the desert lands of Mongolia (afe.easia.columbia.edu, 2011). During a hunting expedition, a 13 year old Temujin killed his half brother Bekhter. The incident left Temujin as the head of the household. In 1182, Temujin was captured and held a prisoner after a raid which was conducted by the Bjartskular, his father’s former allies. He stayed in captivity for more than five years. He was later released at the age of sixteen and went to look for his wife Borje. His wife Borje was still waiting for him and soon afterwards the two got married. The marriage was meant to cement a strong alliance between Temujin and other tribes. Genghis Khan also had six Mongolian wives with whom he had many children with. He also married many daughters of a foreign king who submitted to his rule (Sailer, 2003). This children and wives were not to succeed Temujin. Soon after Temujin and Borje got married, Borje was kidnapped by the Merkits and she was given away as a wife. With the help of his friends and his future enemies, Jamuka and his protector, Ong khan of the Kerait tribe, Temujin was able to rescue Borje. Nine months afterwards, Borje gave birth to a son known as Joshi. While at the age of 27, Temujin organized a ‘kuriltai’ among the Mongolians and was elected the Khan. As the leader of Mongolians, Temujin gave high office positions to his relatives and his followers who were loyal to him. (asianhistory.about.com, 2011) By 1206, Temujin was able to unite a majority of the Mongolian tribes and this was what earned him the title Genghis Khan (answer.com, 2011). With the help of his army, Genghis was able to conqu er China, Samarkand, Central Asia and even Russia. Genghis and his army raided every community that resisted, killed and enslaved men. The then captured women were distributed upon the army and raped. More often, Genghis derived pleasure in sleeping with the daughters and the wives of the enemy chiefs. (Hudson, 2011) In 1227, Genghis Khan died shortly after defeating the Tangut people. The reason for his death remained unknown to many historians. References: afe.easia.columbia.edu. (2011). The Mongols in World History. Retrieved 1st December

Peer review paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Peer review - Research Paper Example Islam has its own rules and principles as mentioned in the Quran. Accordingly, Muslims that are democratically empowered to caste vote do it in favor of implementation of the Sharia Law. A relatively poor response has been made by â€Å"Jay Ulfelder† since he identifies religious concerns as the fundamental reason behind the discriminatory attitudes against such practices as abortion and homosexuality in most of the states whereas the truth is that there is a considerable population of people who condemn these practices because of them being libertarians or because of their ethical and moral concerns. Although it is undeniably true that these practices are condemned on religious grounds, but there are just as many, if not more, reasons cited to oppose these practices as the religious concerns. There is also lack of support of the argument with statistics in the response. Words like â€Å"most states†, and â€Å"some parts of the country† incorporate bias in the

Its our actions that show us who we really are J.K Rowling (critical Essay

Its our actions that show us who we really are J.K Rowling (critical lens) - Essay Example The play follows, in large part, the physical and psychological actions of Prince Hamlet as he feigns madness and deliberates killing the King and his step-father. Perhaps more than in any work of literature the notion of actions are implemented as a primary element of determining who the character really is. One of the major quotes of the play is made by Hamlet when he states, "The play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (Act 2, scene ii). Here Shakespeare is implementing foreshadowing to demonstrate the true nature of Hamlet’s character as hesitant and contemplative. Indeed, Hamlet’s action in not killing the King becomes a major theme throughout the play and demonstrates significant characterization. Throughout many instances and examples Shakespeare demonstrates that rather than being a decisive individual Hamlet is contemplative and existential. This contemplation is implemented in a number of monologues and soliloquys in explaining intimat e and detailed aspects of Hamlet’s character. Ultimately, through theme, characterization, and foreshadowing, Shakespeare demonstrates that Hamlet’s actions in refraining from killing the King reveal a significant amount about who he really is.

Thread #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thread #4 - Essay Example e that Subway is the undisputed leader in fast and healthy food because they offer easy to prepare sandwiches which are â€Å"made to order-right in front of the customer - using freshly baked breads, select sauces and a variety of delicious toppings† (Doctors Associates, Inc., 2011). And the third reason which is very important is the continuous support network that it offers its franchisees. Subway’s support system includes training, product development, advertising, purchasing cooperative and field support (Doctors Associates, Inc., 2011). The total investment in starting a Subway franchise is somewhere between $84,300 to $258,300. This amount includes the franchise fee, on-going royalty fee, start-up cost, equipment, payroll and inventory (Entrepreneur Media, Inc., 2011). This means that a franchisee must also consider looking into the possible financing options open to him to fund the total investment to be made. Aside from these costs, a business experience is needed to own a subway franchise. The manpower needed to run the franchise will be around six to ten employees. There should also be a total commitment from the franchisee because Subway does not allow absentee ownership and the terms of agreement is for 20