Why are Americans so easily manipulated into changing their outward appearance to conform to our ideal of beauty? The media has a huge influence over the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of American society and this power is ever increasing. The media's focus is on the human body - pushing for the thin “Heroin Chic” look.

Most Americans are badgered by the media into feeling as though we need to subscribe to a popular culture lifestyle. Susan Bordo writes, “Our Idolatry of the trim, tight body shows now sign of relinquishing its grip on our conceptions of beauty and normality.” “Fat is the devil and we are continually beating him…” What is the ideal of beauty? It is depicted in popular culture magazines like those seen in supermarket checkout lines.

Susan Bordo writes, “Children in this culture grow up knowing that you can never be thin enough and that being fat is one of the wor

Life for the rock-star is about finding something to have control of and trying to be perfect by maintaining their new affluent lifestyle. Trying to control one’s self evolves into obsessive and compulsive behavior that eats away at the personality of the highlighted individual. Each day is a test to see how much can be endured – what, if anything, should be monitored to have control of. Eating habits are the most noticeable aspect of their lives that becomes restricted in hopes of finding self-control. What ever could be criticized about you is and the result is a rock-star transformed into a nervous wreck.

There is an increasing incidence of eating disorders among African Americans, Native Americans, Latin Americans, and American males. Susan Bordo asserts that eating disorders are not just a result of how insecure the media has made Americans come to feel about their appearance. Eating disorders are a way of finding control in our lives. Susan Bordo writes, “Eating disorders are also linked to the contradiction of consumer culture, which is continually encouraging us to binge on our desires at the same time as it glamorizes self-discipline and scorns fat as a symbol of laziness and lack of willpower.” “...such images carry fantasized solutions to our anxieties and insecurities, and that is part of the reason why they are so powerful.”

st things you can be.” Thi

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