Day in and day out we are surrounded by the media, whether it is a magazine we happen to skim our eyes over that demoralizes a celebrities appearance or an advertisement brainwashing us into believing we need to be or look a certain way. We are living in a media-filled world and the control of the message is truly out of our control. According to nationaleatingdisorders.org, “Over 80% of Americans watch television daily” (national). People of all ages engage on multiple social media outlets daily almost hourly that fuel and contribute to the definition of what is beautiful. We feel the need to fit societies expectations day in and day out. These expectations can lead to eating disorders, depression, or a constant lack of confidence or dissatisfaction with oneself. We must break away from people viewing others for how they look but for their heart and in our mind.

Our society utilizes the media to brainwash and pound the ideal body image into our brains through advertisements. Even media for young children, for example animated shows and children’s videos touch on the importance of looking attractive. Women and men are sexually objectified in commercials and print ads. Take for example the bit Carl’s Jr. pulled with models eating hamburgers in swimsuits in a sexual manner.  We must not submit to these advertisements and hidden innuendos.  If we give in we are allowing the media to tell our loved one’s what makes them unique an beautiful.

Tracey Spicer, an Australian journalist, gave a Ted talk in regards to how much time we put into our body care and body image to fit societies expectations. When in reality we could utilize the time spent on our productivity. In her speech she stated, for women, it works out at 3,276 hours (of grooming) over a lifetime and for men, they only devote 1,092 hours: about a third of the time spent.” As a newsroom journalist she has faced expectations and faced cruel criticism for her body image. She recommends these first steps of making a personal change for you. She says to remove the make up, wear the clothes YOU want to wear, and know you may receive backlash for it but that how any change will slowly happen.

If we spent less time giving into the media’s ideas of beauty we would maintain a higher confidence and be fulfilled with happiness of who we are as a person. Love yourself because you are a unique individual.  When we love ourself we are an example to those around us who are growing up in a world where our societies expectations are skewed. Who know’s with the time you would have spent grooming yourself to fit societies expectations you could have learned a new language, explored a new hobby and shared the important message of loving yourself for who you are!