Seltmann 1

Emily Seltmann

Ms. Wilson

English II Honors

May 10th, 2019

The “Perfect” Body

Young girls have unrealistic body standards because of images of models shown in the

media. Some girls have developed bad or negative views on themselves because of the models in

ads. In magazines and social media especially, people push the idea that girls can only be pretty

if they have an hourglass figure, or if they are extremely skinny. These views can lead to things

like eating disorders, depression, and other mental illnesses.

The media sends an unhealthy message and image of beauty to young women and girls.

“According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), this obsession has contributed

to an increase in eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression among women in the United

States” (Chittom and Finley). The media has shifted its view of beauty from curviness, to

extreme thinness, which has influenced society to create fad diets and increased the rates of

eating disorders. America Ferrera, Tyra Banks and Jennifer Love Hewitt have all spoken out

about loving and being yourself. Tyra Banks, in particular, was photographed on a beach in

Australia wearing a one piece. The picture was then posted and hated on, most called her fat. She

agreed that she had gained some weight since retiring from modeling in 2005, but she made it

very clear that she loved herself and her body. Since then, she has become a spokesperson for

healthy body image and helping young girls be comfortable in their own skin. A potential
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solution to this issue could be people posting less fake images and posting more body positive

pictures.

Most girls look up to princesses growing up, but they are not appropriate role models

because of their unrealistic and fake body. In Disney movies, you see the beautiful princesses

that are basically flawless. When you show this image to children and young girls, they see it and

think that they should look the same. ​“According to critics, princesses are inappropriate role

models because they portray an unhealthy body image and encourage dependence on males.”

(Issitt). People have also stressed the fact that the majority of all Disney Princess movies have

young females that are dependent on a male figure. Movies like Snow White and The Little

Mermaid show young ladies needing men to fix their problems. Some people have argued that

the standard model of a Disney Princess as caucasian can negatively affect young girls of a

different background in terms of body image, self esteem, and cultural self-awareness. “​Disney

movies have been evolving to provide more realistic and culturally diverse depictions of

women.” (Issitt) After this claim, Disney has worked to create movies like The Princess and the

Frog because it shows cultural diversity. They have also made Moana, a movie in which the

princess does NOT rely on a tough man to fix her issues. In most Disney Princess movies, the

girls shown are all super skinny and beautiful. There are very few that are not absolutely perfect.

This gives young girls that might not have the same appearance a negative view on themselves.

Disney overall is not a great role model for young girls, and parents should limit the amount of

movies with unhealthy body image that their children see.

Airbrushing deceives consumers by making it seem like models have perfect bodies and

no flaws. “Airbrushing in advertisements creates unrealistic standards of beauty that contribute

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to body image issues, eating disorders, and depression.” (Issitt). Airbrushing is the process of

using photo manipulation techniques to alter the appearance of people in ads. They use these

techniques to make models look younger, to alter weight, and to remove physical imperfections.

Lots of big model companies or advertisement companies use photoshop, which is equivalent to

airbrushing. By removing all of these flaws, consumers feel that these imperfections that they

have can be taken away, and they can achieve the same look as those in the ads. Since the 1970s,

advertisements have been proven to emphasize weight loss, and link beauty to thin bodies.

Young girls are the main targets for these ads, which is a huge problem because they cause

things like eating disorders and depression. Some people argue that eating disorders like bulimia

and anorexia are caused by these ads, but some believe that social factors also play a huge role as

well. ​Because of this image in the media and girls wanting to be perfect, they edit their own

photos to show their friends on social media, which just spreads the unrealistic body image even

more. ​They believe that the image of beauty created by artificial and altered advertisements is a

large factor, and contributes a lot to the rising levels of eating disorders. “​The National

Association for Anorexia Nervosa reports data from a number of studies showing that 47 percent

of middle-school and high-school girls want to lose weight because of images in magazines,

while 69 percent admit magazine ads affect their perception of the ideal body shape.” (Issitt).

Girls in this society are heavily influenced by social media and advertisements, and most images

make them want to change their appearance.

Young girls are shown a negative, fake image of how they should look in the media, and

it can lead to eating disorders, depression, and other mental illnesses. These girls are all worried

about how they look and they compare themselves to these fake models, when in reality they
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should be out living and loving their lives. Overall, everyone should just love themselves and

stop comparing themselves to others.

Works Cited

Chittom, Lynn-nore, and Laura Finley. “Point: Body Image in the Media Is an Unhealthy

Picture.” Points of View: Body Image & the Media, Jan. 2017, p. 2. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=28675179&site=pov-live.

Issitt, Micah. “Point: Airbrushing in Advertisements Is Detrimental to Body Image.”

Points of View: Airbrushing in Advertising​, June 2018, p. 1. ​EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=84781966&site=pov-live.

Issitt, Micah. “Princesses as Role Models for Young Girls: Overview.” ​Points of View:

Princesses as Role Models for Young Girls,​ Mar. 2016, p. 2. ​EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=95029400&site=pov-live.

Problem-Solution Essay (Honors)

Score: /50
W.9-10.2.​ Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately
through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Standard Exceptional (10-9) Proficient (8-7) Emerging Not Evident
(6-1) (0)
2.a.​ ​Introduction​ - ❏ Write an introduction that is clear, ❏ Write an introduction that is
Introduce a topic; focused, and concise and that clear, focused, and concise
organize complex creatively hooks the reader ❏ Provide context to your topic
❏ Provide ​detailed​ context to your topic ❏ Present a thesis that presents
ideas, concepts, and
that aids the reader in their an opinion on a topic
information to make understanding ❏ Establish an appropriate
important ❏ Present a thesis that presents a ​clear organization to illustrate the
connections and opinion on a ​narrow​ topic. problem solution element of
distinctions; include ❏ Establish​ an effective and the essay
formatting (e.g., sophisticated ​organization to
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headings), graphics illustrate the problem solution

(e.g., figures, tables), element of the essay
and multimedia when
useful to aiding
comprehension.

2.b.​ ​Argument​ - ❏ Use ​effective, highly relevant​, and ❏ Use appropriate, relevant, and
Develop the topic sufficient evidence ​consistently ​that sufficient evidence with an
with well-chosen, is appropriate to a understanding of understanding of the
the audience’s knowledge audience’s knowledge
relevant, and
❏ Use ​textual evidence​ to support your ❏ Use textual evidence; introduce
sufficient facts, argument; provide ​relevant​ and textual evidence
extended definitions, sufficient​ introductions to your ❏ Provide explanations for
concrete details, textual evidence. evidence
quotations, or other ❏ Provide ​clear​ ​and logical​ explanations ❏ Use appropriate formatting,
information and that connect the evidence to the graphics, and/or multimedia
examples appropriate main idea of the essay that is appropriately aligned
❏ Use formatting, graphics, and/or with the text (if applicable)
to the audience’s
multimedia ​effectively to​ ​enhance
knowledge of the the text (if applicable)
topic.

2.c​. ​Organization​ - ❏ Use ​effective ​transitions ​consistently ❏ Use appropriate transitions

Use appropriate and
varied transitions to
link the major
sections of the text,
create cohesion, and ❏ Organize sentences and paragraphs in
clarify the
relationships among
complex ideas and
concepts.
between and within paragraphs to
link major sections of the text, to
create unity and cohesion, ​and to
create the problem solution pattern
of organization of the essay
a logical manner that promotes unity
and focus​ throughout the essay.
between and within
paragraphs to link ideas and to
create unity and cohesion
❏ Organize sentences and
paragraphs in a logical manner

X
2.d.​ ​Language​ - ​Use ❏ Use precise and language and domain ❏ Use precise language and
precise language and specific vocabulary ​consistently ​to domain specific vocabulary to
domain-specific manage the complexity of the topic manage the complexity of the
❏ Use ​effective ​word choice and syntax topic
vocabulary to
consistently ​to establish and maintain ❏ Use appropriate word choice
manage the a formal style and objective tone and syntax to
complexity of the ❏ Avoid repetition, redundancy, and ❏ establish a formal style and
topic. wordiness to create a ​concise and objective tone that is
2.e.​ ​Language​ - focused​ argument maintained throughout
Establish and ❏ Avoid repetition, redundancy,
maintain a formal and wordiness
style and objective
tone while attending
to the norms and
conventions of the
discipline in which
they are writing.
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2.f.​ ​Conclusion​ - ❏ Summarize the main points ​using ❏ Summarize the main points
Provide a concluding original language and clear ❏ Address implications or
statement or section organization significance
❏ Articulate a ​extension ​that addresses
that follows from and
the implications or significance in a
supports the way that ​relates to the audience
information
or explanation
presented (e.g.,
articulating
implications or the
significance of the
topic).

MLA Style & Formatting Rubric

Requirements Your Score

MLA Style Heading and Page Numbers (2 pts.)

❏ The document has a heading including the author’s name, the
teacher’s name, the class and the date 2/2
❏ The document has page numbers in the top right of the page with
the author’s last name

Margins, Font, Spacing (2 pts.)

❏ The author uses 12-pt Times New Roman font 2/2
❏ The author uses double spacing throughout

In-Text Citations (3 pts.)

❏ The writer includes parenthetical citations after each
quotation/paraphrase from an outside source 2/3
❏ The citation includes the author or article name and page number
(if any)
❏ The citation is punctuated correctly

Example 1: “This is a fake quotation” (Wilson 1).

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Example 2: “This is a fake quotation” (“Article Name” 1).

Works Cited Page (3 pts.)

❏ The author includes a Works Cited Page
❏ The items in the Works Cited listed are given in alphabetical 2.5/3
order by the author’s last name
❏ The Works Cited page is formatted correctly: 12 pt Times New
Roman, double-spaced, left justification (DO NOT CENTER
YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE)

Total MLA Score:

8.5/10