WUNRN
UK - Real Woman Campaign:
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DIGITALLY-ALTERED PHOTO IMAGES -
BEAUTY & BODY IMAGE PRESSURES
December 21, 2009
Digitally-altered images of super-thin models and actresses contribute to
negative body image, low self-esteem and damaging behavior, critics say. A
British political party's campaign for a labeling system for altered images is
gaining support.
(WOMENSENEWS)--Demi Moore is known for displaying a fortunate frame and
good looks in movies like "Striptease" and "Ghost." Now,
however, a revealing cover shot of the 47-year-old for the December 2009 issue
of W magazine has unleashed a maelstrom of online chatter over concerns the
image was altered.
"Anyone
can be absolutely stunning and beautiful with a little or a lot of help from Photoshop!
The sad part is that so many people still have no clue and actually think that
this kind of beauty is possible at any age, never mind 47," reader
'dengtart' commented on a Huffington Post piece about the image. "So, tell
all your friends, family and especially young teens that this is SO fake! There
is more than enough media pressure on teens . . . they don't need this!"
For those
campaigning against the use of digitally-altered images in advertising the
"Such
images reflect a chaos in society," said Lynn Grefe, chief executive
officer of the Seattle-based National Eating Disorders Association. "We
should be seeing encouragement to 'be healthy,' when instead you can't pick up
a magazine these days that isn't showing females they need to be a size zero,
an unattainable goal that just does not work for most body types."
The
controversial W magazine image features the actress scantily clad in a Balmain
leotard looking unusually thin and, apparently, with a chunk of her left thigh
and hip missing.
W magazine
issued a statement claiming it "did not do anything unusual or out of the
ordinary on Demi Moore for the photo."
The
problem, say women's health advocates, is that the usual massaging of an image
includes significant airbrushing, which often includes making models look
thinner than they are.
A backlash
against digitally-altered images of uber-thin women is building in the
Grefe's
National Eating Disorders Association has joined the Real Women campaign, as
have academics and health advocates from
For those
over 16, Real Women seeks to create a set of symbols that reflect the amount an
image has been retouched--like a calorie counter or hazard disclaimer--and
ensure all advertisers use the symbol system. Campaigners are pushing to get
the
"Today's unrealistic idea of what is beautiful means
that young girls are under more pressure now than they were even five years
ago," Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat member of parliament from
In
While
advertising alone cannot be blamed for eating disorders or extreme behaviors,
women's health advocates say it can contribute to low self-esteem and
depression and can trigger even more serious health-related problems among the
vulnerable.
"Eating
disorders don't usually travel alone and are accompanied by other issues, such
as depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior and anxiety," said Grefe.
"Add in altered advertising images everywhere and it's a recipe for
trouble."
The Real
Women campaign also has appeal to those inside the "Health at Every
Size" movement, which aims to deemphasize dieting and instead help
encourage people to adopt healthier habits for the sake of their well-being.
"As a
society we buy into 'truth in advertising' thinking and so advertising should
be truthful. They shouldn't have the right to alter what is real," said
Dr. Linda Bacon, author of the book "Health at Every Size" and a
nutrition professor at City College of San Francisco. "The images put
forth in advertising are not based on health and are constantly representing
one ideal. People take that singular image to represent beauty and the truth is
most people don't have enough defenses to withstand the constant barrage
without effect."
Numerous
studies have tried to measure the effects of advertising, mass media and
consumer culture on body image.
In the
Research
published in 2007 by the Canadian Women's Health Network, with headquarters in
Australian
researchers Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark observed 9 to 12-year-old girls
in 2006 in that country and found that nearly half wish to be thinner. As a
result, they have engaged in a diet or are aware of the concept of dieting.
In the
But
government intervention on digitally-altered images, caution health advocates,
isn't a panacea.
"Legislation
has its limits. Modeling agencies, photographers and magazines can simply turn
around and look for skinnier models," said Bacon. "We need to support
people in seeing their beauty. People who feel better about themselves do a
better job of taking care of themselves."
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