When looking at this advertisement, the image people probably notice first, is the pretty blond. While looking at the woman’s picture and studying her facial structure, neck, shoulders, and collar bones it is clear that she is very thin. This is by no means an uncommon image in the media, the majority of models and celebrities are unrealistically thin, and idolized for being so. This unrealistic image of thinness is a major contributing factor, to the common fear of not living up to beauty standards, which plagues women. Women make up more than ninety percent of people with eating disorders. Women may be more at risk for eating disorders because of a desire to have the "ideal" figure often shown in the TV shows, magazi

Dr. Peter DeBenedittis is a national speaker, focused mainly on critical thinking in the media. “Advertisers need you to hate who you are, because when they can get you to hate who you are, they can sell you more stuff,” stated DeBenedittis. He pointed to another study by Laurie Mintz, associate professor of educational and counseling psychology at University of Missouri-Columbia. Researchers found that women showed more signs of depression and dissatisfaction with their bodies after looking at advertisements containing stereotypical thin and beautiful women for one to three minutes. Women who already felt bad about their selves experienced an even larger drop in self-image after viewing. In an ad like this one, which was featured in Cosmopolitan, not only are the advertisers creating a sense of self-hate with the picture, but they are also offering solutions to self-hate, which are conveniently placed right next to the photo. I think this was brilliant on the behalf of the advertisers; you see the beautiful girl, you feel ashamed of yourself, you look right next to her and….there you go, all your problems solved. Though I do not condone this type of propaganda, I do believe that advertising team was very smart in choosing the content, photo, and lay out of their advertisement. According to DeBenedittis, selling self-hate helps sell products. Cosmetics, clothing, shoes, and even cosmetic surgery are all sold and help you fit in with what is marketed as beautiful. Not only do many women feel that they must fit the mold, said DeBenedittis, but men believe women must fit it, too, and consequently, fantasize about the type of women portrayed by media, which is dangerous to women. Most women already feel intense pressure, to be desired by the opposite sex, so advertisements as this one do not help these feelings at all. This advertisement is preying on the insecurities of women to impress and attract males, in order to sell their product. They are featuring a woman, which people would assume, most men will find attractive, and placing this ad right in the middle of a woman’s magazine, where millions of women will see this ad and hopefully buy into it.

Our lives our flooded with images of beautiful models and celebrities, which a lot of us use to determine our own self worth and beauty. They make their living and live the way they do based on

Some topics in this essay:
, Cosmetic Surgery, According DeBenedittis, Missouri-Columbia Researchers, Peter DeBenedittis, eating disorders, Laurie Mintz, plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, body image, accepting major credit, tv magazines movies, major credit, physical attractiveness, sell products, major credit cards, procedures performed, women women, credit cards,