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Acta Technologica Dubnicae

volume 5, 2015, issue 1

DOI: 10.1515/atd-2015-0031

37

The Effects of the Media

on Self-Esteem of Young Girls

Róbert Osaďan – Rania Hanna

Abstract: There have been a number of studies investigating the media’s

role in body image dissatisfaction, eating disorders, self-esteem, and the

internalization of the thin body ideal in young girls and women. However,

much of the research focuses on girls ages 10 and older; very few examine

those girls of pre-primary or primary age. This paper seeks to explore the

studies that do focus on the younger age groups, and understand the

relationship between the media and young girls’ self-esteem.

Key words: body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, girls, media, self-

esteem.

1 Introduction Young girls are becoming increasingly aware of their body image through the

image of models in advertising, and image-centered ideals portrayed in the

media. A number of studies have been developed in the past several years that

have determined that the media does indeed have negative influences on young

girls’ self-esteem, body-image, and ideas of self-worth. Further, these

experiences and influences can impact girls and drive them towards behaviors

that are unhealthy, including eating disorders. This paper seeks to review the

literature and consolidate findings in a systematic and thorough capacity.

Weight is a sensitive issue among many girls and young women. Specifically,

younger girls are showing a concern for body image and weight at alarmingly

young ages, including as young as age 5. Some of these girls are at healthy

weights, others are overweight. Of course, weight has an impact on a girl’s self-

esteem, with those even as young as 5 years reporting lower body self-esteem,

and lower perceived intelligence if they were of a higher weight (Davison and

* Róbert Osaďan, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia;

[email protected]

Rania Hanna, Moravian College, Bethlehem Pa, USA; [email protected]

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Birch, 2000). Regardless, peer influences and the media have a profound impact

on a young girl’s self-esteem, and her body-image ideals, which can lead to

unhealthy behaviors and emotional/mental states.

2 Discussion Even brief exposure to seeing skinny models leads to body dissatisfaction. In

one study, 210 adolescent girls were randomly assigned to a 15-month fashion

magazine subscription, or no-subscription condition (Stice, Spangler and Argas,

2001). The researchers followed these girls over time, and determined that,

interestingly, there were no long-term negative effects of being exposed to

fashion magazines. That is, there were no long-term effects related to the thin-

ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction or eating disorders. However, it was

found that vulnerable adolescents, who had initial perceptions of the “thin-ideal”

and who did not have proper social support, were negatively impacted by

exposure to the thin-model images. Therefore, exposure to thin-ideal model

images had lasting negative effects on vulnerable young girls.

A study that examined 97 girls aged 5-8 determined that watching appearance-

themed/focused television program was an antecedent to appearance satisfaction

(Dohnt and Tiggemann, 2006a). That is, watching these television programs had

a direct, and oftentimes negative, effect on these young girls’ self-esteem.

Alarmingly, as young as school-age children just beginning their education, girls

are already vulnerable to, and live in a culture, where the media transmits body

image ideals, include thinness, which negatively impacts these young girls’ self-

esteem, and influences the development of their body image.

Another study by these researchers recruited 128 girls, aged 5-8 (Dohnt and

Tiggemann, 2006b). The researchers determined that by age 6, many of these

girls wanted to be slimmer, and thought that thinness was the ideal figure to

have. The media and peer influences were indicated to be the driving factors

behind these girls’ desires to have a thinner body, and the consequent dieting

schemas that arise from such desires. Dieting awareness was predicted by the

girls’ viewing of music television shows (which often feature thin models), and

reading appearance-themed magazines.

These two studies have determined that young girls, aged 5-8, are already aware

of body image ideals, and have desires driven by a culture that showcases

appearance and images.

Field, Camargo, Taylor, Berkey, Roberts and Colditz (2001) determined that

young girls, aged 9-14, become highly concerned with their weight. Regardless

of their age or body mass index (BMI), girls who made strong efforts to look

like women in the media were more likely to be concerned about their weight.

Therefore, the media does have a strong influence on the development of girls’

weight worries.

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Harrison and Hefner (2006) found that media exposure can lead to eating

disorders among girls (and young women). The media exposure causes these

young girls to internalize a thin-body ideal, which then leads to the girls desire to

be thin. 257 preadolescent girls were examined. It was found that specifically,

television-viewing predicted eating disorder and a thinner body-ideal. However,

post-pubescence, when these girls were also examined, were not as predictable

in terms of eating disorders and television exposure.

A study that examined 791 girls determined that the internalization of media

body ideals led to girls being dissatisfied with their bodies (Knauss, Paxton and

Alsaker, 2007). In fact, in these young girls, the strongest predictor for body

dissatisfaction was the internalization of body ideals from the media.

Highly attractive models in advertising impacts female pre-adolescents and

adolescents. Girls in grades four, six and eight were studied, and it was found

that social comparison was a big factor that drove the girls’ body image, in

relation to media exposure (Martin and Gentry, 1997). However, the social

comparison theory was not consistent across all grade groups, and there are

therefore other factors that impact a girl’s self-esteem, in relation to being

exposed to highly attractive models in the advertising that they are viewing.

Appearance schemas are a cognitive component of body image. Appearance

schemas are associated with pre-adolescent girls’ levels of depression and their

concern with their weight (Sinton and Birch, 2006). Furthermore, these

appearance schemas made these young girls more aware of media messages

related to female appearance. They were also related to the girls’ dissatisfaction

with their bodies. It seems here that being susceptible already to body

dissatisfaction made the girls more aware, and more vulnerable, to the messages

and effects of the media on the development of how they perceive themselves,

other girls, and how much importance they place on their appearance. It may be

that the media is certainly a risk factor for negative body image, but that the

media may be more so a causal risk factor (Levine and Murnen, 2009).

One hundred girls aged 9-12 completed questionnaires about media exposure,

which included magazines and television, internalization, and body

dissatisfaction (Clark and Tiggeman, 2006). The girls’ height and weight were

measured; nearly half of these girls expressed a desire to be thinner. The girls’

exposure to the appearance-focused media, outlets were not directly related to

the girls’ body dissatisfaction, but rather they were indirectly related through the

conversations about appearance that they had with their peers. These

appearance-themed conversations with peers had a significant relationship with

the girls’ internalization of thin body ideals, which, not surprisingly, led to their

body dissatisfaction.

Caucasian girls are not the only ones affected by body dissatisfaction and

dieting. Preadolescent British Asian girls have been found to be just as

susceptible to eating disorders as their Caucasian counterparts (Hill and Bhatti,

1995). Both Asian and Caucasian girls placed an emphasis on thinness. Further,

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it was found in the Asian samples an association between dieting and the cultural

aspects of their family. Therefore, the desire to be thinner seems to be a

combination of socio-cultural influences, and may have a strong influence on the

development of eating disorders in young girls.

One study that looked at 121 girls between the ages of 3-6 (Hayes and Tantleff-

Dunn, 2010). The researchers examined the effects of brief exposure to

appearance-themed media on the girls’ body image. What was interesting was

that there was no effect found of media on body dissatisfaction. It may be, the

researchers hypothesized, that younger children, as opposed to older individuals,

adopt the persona of the characters deemed attractive, rather than comparing

themselves to the characters. However, though nearly one-third of the girls were

fine with their appearance nearly half of the girls were worried about being fat.

Their exposure to the appearance-themed media did not seem to worsen their

concerns.

The Barbie doll has been viewed with concern over the last number of years. In

one study, Barbie dolls were examined as a possible factor in the body

dissatisfaction of young girl aged 5-8 (Dittmar, Halliwell and Ive, 2006). These

young girls were exposed to Barbie dolls, Emme dolls, which are a U.S. size 16,

or no dolls conditions. The girls then completed body image assessments. It was

found that the young girls exposed to Barbie reported a lower self-esteem, and

an increased desire to be thin, compared to girls in the other conditions.

However, in the older girls, this Barbie doll effect was not present. Therefore, it

seems that the dolls are no longer models for older girls, but that it may be

important to limit younger girls’ exposure to Barbie dolls to prevent them from

wanting to attain an unrealistically thinner body. Therefore, the media of

playthings and the Barbie franchise may be something that should be limited to

younger girls, who may be more vulnerable to the ideals presented by the dolls’

unrealistic body proportions and appearance.

Barbie dolls are not the only children’s character that may contribute to body

dissatisfaction.

A content analysis examined body image-themed messages in children’s videos

and books (Herbozo, Tantleff-Dunn, Gokee-Larose and Thompson, 2004). It

was determined that it was not so much the books that were an issue, but rather,

the videos. In these videos, physical appearance was emphasized as being of

importance. The analysis examined a number of videos, but the ones that most

exhibited body and appearance themed messages were The Little Mermaid and

Cinderella. Cinderella is portrayed as being thin and beautiful. The children

complain about their body shape and size, and many indicate they wished they

were thinner and prettier. Of the books examined, Rapunzel was found to have

the most appearance-related themes. These do affect children’s ideals and do

develop a child’s awareness of physical appearance as being important, which

does lead to body dissatisfaction. Specifically, the children’s stories catapult a

desire for thinness that are unhealthy in these young children.

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Pine (2001) studied 140 children, aged 5-11, and explored what these children

thought was the ideal shape for an adult male and female, and whether the

shapes were related to masculinity or femininity. Both girls and boys agreed on

what was considered the ideal male body. However, there was disagreement on

what the ideal female shape was, even as young as 5 years of age. The figure

chosen by girls was significantly thinner than the figure chosen by the boys. The

girls also indicated wanting a thinner body. Girls aged 9, regardless of BMI,

indicated they were dieting. Stereotypically feminine traits were associated with

the thinner female body shape, than a heavier one. Masculine traits were not

associated with any one male body shape. Therefore, the children believed that

to be feminine, one must be thin, but to be masculine, body weight and shape did

not matter as much. There are implications related to the development of eating

disorders in response to these patterns of thinking, where girls are more likely to

develop such disorders while aspiring to be considered feminine.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, television viewing among first to third grade

children resulted in fat stereotyping and the standardization of body shapes and

sizes (Harrison, 2000). Among the boys in the study who were surveyed, it was

determined by the researchers that fat females were stereotyped. In not just girls,

but also boys, there could also be predicted the development of eating disorders.

Interestingly, interpersonal attraction to thinner television characters was not

predictive of thin-ideal behaviors, but interpersonal attraction to average-weight

characters had a negative effect on the young female girls surveyed in the study.

3 Conclusions Many of these studies are alarming, and indicate a great need for education and

awareness on the effects of the media on children, especially younger girls in

terms of body imagery. It is not just peers that determine how healthy a young

girl is psychologically in relation to her body; it is the ever-present media,

television shows, ads, even the toys and stories that children are exposed to have

negative effects on vulnerable girls. There can be strategies implemented, that

include lessening the exposure of these girls to the media. However, the media is

everywhere, and their presence cannot be controlled. What can be more

controlled are the ways the media portrays female characters, the way females of

different body shapes are stereotyped, or not, and the way the media connects

physical attractiveness with worth and value. The media have the power to shift

the perspectives of these young, vulnerable girls, by approaching beauty and

thinness in healthier capacities.

Of course, the media cannot be blamed for everything. We must realize that the

media is only one factor that influences how a girl perceives herself and her

body. Parents and those in positions of authority over children, like teachers and

counselors, can do much to help a girl boost her self-esteem. Parents can

approach their children in healthy ways that include not fat-shaming others or

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their children, and instead focusing on having the child eat healthy and stay

physically active. Teaching a girl to live by her own rules and empowering her,

rather than being controlled by the messages of the media, can go a long way in

helping a girl grow comfortable in her own body.

All this requires empathy and a connection to the child. A loving environment

that supports and teaches a girl to recognize her worth in her goals, and gives her

the self-empowerment to achieve those goals can help her gain a self of self-

worth, and move away from identifying herself with just the way she looks. Co-

viewing, with parents watching television with their children, and encouraging

their child to think critically about what is being viewed, can go a long way in

helping to sustain and preserve a girl’s self-esteem. Girls must have a strong

foundation for being able to see past the images and build for themselves a view

of their body, attractiveness, and worth away from thin ideals, fat stereotyping,

and the disorders that body dissatisfaction can lead to.

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