I'm trying to write a paper for my Social Problems class.?

I want to write it on how the media is biased against females (watch the Dove commercials http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/hom... http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/fla... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...


and has accelerated self esteem problems even to the point of mental illness (ie Anorexia or Body Dysmorphic Disorder). I am having problems finding more than a few books and articles to show how the media in essence helps to create a social problem for women and some men. Extreme self esteem problems can lead to bad choices more recognized as a social problem- drugs, poverty or abuse due to bad choices because a person feels they are not worthy enough to strive for a better life or life partner as they beleive they've got to grab whatever/whomever comes their way because this might be the best they can get.

I'm trying to write a paper for my Social Problems class.?
Try scholarly search engines like ProQuest to find articles relating to media, self esteem, body image, etc. Most colleges pay for access to these articles so it's free to the students.





Just googling "media body image" popped up a bunch of relevant websites.





Eve Ensler's "The Good Body" is a very interesting book/play on the subject.





Be careful not to say in your paper that the media causes low self esteem which causes eating disorders. While it is true that media images can lower self esteem, that is not the only cause of lowered self esteem. The media is not the sole cause of eating disorders. Similarly, poor self esteem is not the only thing that causes eating disorders. Eating disorders are too complex to say that any one thing causes them. A lot of things contribute to the development of eating disorders. Be careful not to point to just one thing as the ultimate cause.
Reply:Media advertising does not create low self esteem, although it can accelerate it.


Most people do not read an article or watch a commercial and truly believe that that product is going to change their life or make them as 'beautiful' as the model in the advert.


Self esteem problems do lead to the illnesses you describe but these people have underlying problems to start with.


and lets face it fashion designers use tall skinny models because the clothes look better on them. If media used so called large, obese, or ugly ladies would people really buy their products. Most people if asked would change some part of their body or looks but that doesn't mean that they feel worthless.


Media may be a trigger for some people but it is certainly not the cause. There would be other things that accelerated their frailities.