Bundling Fear (or insecurities)

          Our society does have a problem with body image, and Jillian Croll makes this obvious in her work. From magazines to toys, almost everything tells us to pursue the unrealistic body image. The scaled measurements of the Barbie and Ken dolls show how relentless the media is when trying to influence body image; any person with those body size proportions would likely be considered a freak of nature. As Croll states, the soap operas and music videos perpetuate the unattainable body image and people who watch them have more dissatisfaction with their own bodies (539). The factors contributing to body image problems are straightforward; constant pressure from the media, peers, and family, and Croll notes all of these.
         The source of the problem seems to be the media, and it has spread to others over the years. People want to be like their idols, which means attaining the unrealistic body image. But it did not start with celebrities. A large part probably started with models who were extremely thin and tall. As that body image became more popular and spread from the runway, more people paid to try to be like those models, using beauty products, suggest diets, and magazines as their guide. Now companies market to these people using the unrealistic body image, and make tons of money because of it. Inventing new things to feel insecure about works off of the image too, such as a new armpit product which claims it gets rid of ugly armpits. With such a profitable market, the current body image is here to stay.

Croll, Jillian. "Body Image and Adolescents." Rpt. in Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. 536-541. Print.