Let's be real. Media representations of woman are way messed up, man.
Women in the media are most commonly tall, white and emaciated (or nearly so). The resulting outcome is a world in which only a very small (miniscule!) group has the luxury of seeing themselves reflected in the media. This elite group has become even smaller with the advent of Photoshop and other digital editing software.
Many people are aware of the effects of Photoshop but don't realize how prevalent its use really is. Below are some examples of just how much the pictures in magazines are altered.
Women in the media are most commonly tall, white and emaciated (or nearly so). The resulting outcome is a world in which only a very small (miniscule!) group has the luxury of seeing themselves reflected in the media. This elite group has become even smaller with the advent of Photoshop and other digital editing software.
Many people are aware of the effects of Photoshop but don't realize how prevalent its use really is. Below are some examples of just how much the pictures in magazines are altered.
Here are some before and after shots. What's different?
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Original on left, altered on right] Left arm slimmed, collar bone erased, wrinkles gone, upper and lower back cut off, waist and thighs made smaller, right hand erased and replaced with right forearm.
[Original on left, altered on right] Left arm slimmed, collar bone erased, wrinkles gone, upper and lower back cut off, waist and thighs made smaller, right hand erased and replaced with right forearm.
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Original on right, altered on left] Legs thinned, cellulite on thighs removed, legs longer, butt lifted, waist smaller, left arm thinned, creases in neck erased.
[Original on right, altered on left] Legs thinned, cellulite on thighs removed, legs longer, butt lifted, waist smaller, left arm thinned, creases in neck erased.
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Original on left, altered on right] Legs thinned, muscle-tone in left thigh erased, wrinkles in clothing smoothed, hips cut off, waist smaller, breasts augmented.
[Original on left, altered on right] Legs thinned, muscle-tone in left thigh erased, wrinkles in clothing smoothed, hips cut off, waist smaller, breasts augmented.
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Unedited on left, altered on right] Obviously these are two separate photos but still effectively illustrate how Beyonce has been "white-washed." Racist? I think so.
[Unedited on left, altered on right] Obviously these are two separate photos but still effectively illustrate how Beyonce has been "white-washed." Racist? I think so.
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Unedited on right, altered on left] Speaking of racism, before Photoshop technologies even existed, Oprah's head was cut out and pasted onto a darkened photo of Ann-Margret Olsson's body.
[Unedited on right, altered on left] Speaking of racism, before Photoshop technologies even existed, Oprah's head was cut out and pasted onto a darkened photo of Ann-Margret Olsson's body.
Photo credit: Beautyredefined.net
[Unedited on right, altered on left] Skin darkened, neck thickened, chest and arms augmented, birthmark on right arm removed...proving that men are not exempt from the Photoshop phenomenon.
Take Home Message
Comparing yourself to the women (or men) in magazines is setting you up for failure since even after plastic surgery and make up, celebrities can’t measure up to their own Photoshopped images. It’s unfair to hold yourself to a standard that even the “ideal” woman cannot reach. The images in the media are not real people but are digitally altered photographs of a select group of individuals with professional make up artists and thousands of dollars to spend on plastic surgery.
So the next time you find yourself comparing your body to the "perfect" images in the magazines, just remember that it's all an illusion.
--Brit
[Unedited on right, altered on left] Skin darkened, neck thickened, chest and arms augmented, birthmark on right arm removed...proving that men are not exempt from the Photoshop phenomenon.
Take Home Message
Comparing yourself to the women (or men) in magazines is setting you up for failure since even after plastic surgery and make up, celebrities can’t measure up to their own Photoshopped images. It’s unfair to hold yourself to a standard that even the “ideal” woman cannot reach. The images in the media are not real people but are digitally altered photographs of a select group of individuals with professional make up artists and thousands of dollars to spend on plastic surgery.
So the next time you find yourself comparing your body to the "perfect" images in the magazines, just remember that it's all an illusion.
--Brit
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