In September 1996, Vogue published the article “The Body Myth” by Rebecca Johnson, reflecting on the numerous negative feedbacks from readers regarding the thin models portrayed in the magazine. The audience was outraged that excessively skinny and obviously sick models were promoted as ideals of beauty, thus causing multiple cases of eating disorders and anorexia among women striving for a perfect body.
Johnson (1996) argues that despite its powerful nature, the trend for thin models has nothing to do with anorexia. To prove her point, the author investigated the works of medical scientists and dieticians and interviewed the patients of clinics specializing in eating disorders. She discovered that, according to doctors, anorexia is a complex disease that might be influenced by the genetic predisposition and family problems and cannot be caused solely by media. Most patients confirmed that they stopped eating due to psychological issues or abusive experience. Many women diet, yet only those with obsessiveness, persistent self-doubt, and extreme perfectionism end up with serious health problems. Some feminist activists did not appreciate thin models either as they saw them as another attempt of “male-dominated society’s tyranny over women’s bodies” (Johnson par. 7). Johnson disagreed with this statement, claiming that, in fact, “thinness as an ideal has traditionally accompanied periods of greater freedom for women” (par. 8). She adds that in the movies, progressive and career-oriented women are always tall and scrawny.
In my opinion, media has a significant impact on the development of beauty standards and dictates tastes for every season. However, I agree with the author that it is primarily a person’s conscious that determines his or her eating habits and physique. Observing numerous thin models on a daily basis, people tend to copy them while it is crucial to understand that these beauty idols are different from others. They lead another life full of sport and dieting that cannot be broken. Thus, the core of anorexia seems to lie in an attitude of a person. I believe that nowadays Vogue can make the same claim as the impact of media is increasingly growing and embracing more audience.
About twenty years after the “Body Myth” was published, the controversial topics concerning beauty standards remain popular. In her article for the New York Magazine, Maureen O’Connor discusses the delicate matter of ethnic plastic surgery. She notes that over the last years, many Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics went for plastic surgeries, changing their stereotypical racial features. The idea of connecting beauty criteria to race might seem offensive. However, only white people seem to be offended. Asians claim that they do not want to westernize, preferring to be “beautiful Asians,” and the same can be noted of other ethnicities (O’Connor par. 14). People modify themselves according to their aesthetic preferences to communicate who they are (Eicher, Evenson, and Lutz 3). In this connection, I consider that it is all about individualism and diversity. It is an innate desire of every nation to preserve its culture and traditions including appearance.
As for the images of a perfect body in male magazines, they are quite constant. There are certain trends like beards, vintage mustaches, or tattooed arms, but the general standards did not change since ancient times: the perfect man is athletic and strong. Men’s Health post articles like “The 3-Move Workout That Gives You 6-Pack Abs” yet does not promote any extreme or hardly-achievable ideals (Heid par. 1). Therefore, it is impossible to claim that men’s magazines can affect the development of anorexia in them. Men usually use media and body to confirm their status and look like an integral part of society.
Works Cited
Eicher, Joanne Bubolz, et al. The Visible Self: Global Perspectives on Dress, Culture, and Society. 3rd ed., Fairchild Books, 2008.
Heid, Markham. “The 3-Move Workout That Gives You 6-Pack Abs.” Men’s Health, 2016. Web.
Johnson, Rebecca. “The body myth.” Vogue, Sep. 1996, pp. 654-658.
O’Connor, Maureen. “Is race plastic? My Trip Into the ‘Ethnic Plastic Surgery’ Minefield.” The New York Magazine, 2014. Web.