The “How hot I am” syndrome ...

A young pop-star dressed as a school girl with her shirt unbuttoned licking a lollypop, such visuals are being beamed across the eyes and minds of young girls 24x7, nurturing a generation for whom all that matters is “how hot they look”?

The portrayal of women by media in a form that is unachievable for most of us is having a derogatory effect on the mental and physical health of millions of young women. Most magazines, TV shows and advertisements trick you by forcing you to think that there is some form of imperfection in your body. And this is where the vicious circle begins that leads you from starving and sweating it hard to get that perfect hour-glass figure, to scouting for ultra-sexy but uncomfortable and unrealistic clothing and finally putting you through mental depression when you don’t achieve what you aimed at.

The “Thin is in” Funda:
There was a time when voluptuous was considered desirable but as the fashion industry took a turn towards clothing like low waisted jeans & few inches long skirts and tops put together merely by a couple of strings, it gave birth to an era of skinny models. And soon they became role models for women from all social and economic classes.

With the increasing number of beauty pageants and model hunts, the wrong notion that a woman’s value is restricted to her sex appeal is being ingrained in the minds of girls aged between 16 to 24. No doubt it’s important to be fit, but fitness is not about starving yourself to death or sweating your body to dehydration.
The present generation is being fed on audio-visuals that emphasize only on a woman being attractive irrespective of the role she plays. All forms of media lay emphasis on ways to look good and objectify a female. In turn women and girls ruin their mental and physical health in hope of fulfilling their fantasies.

The Body Image:
The successful marketing and upward curve of the fashion industry has resulted in the creation of a thin and glamorous ideal. And when lakhs of women trying to achieve this ideal don’t get desired results, it leads to mental stress. This affects one’s entire personality which further leads to lack of confidence, low self-esteem, and a detrimental change in your attitude towards one’s own self. The dieting industry is clever enough to first instill self-doubt about ones own body and then offer solution for the same. This is the trick that all you women out there need to protect yourself from. Don’t let the advertisements fool you into thinking and doing what they want you to.

Love thyself:
Women need to understand that it’s the complete image that should be perfect and not only the body. And the image is more about your attitude, your thoughts, your goals and perceptions. It is more important to be smart than to be sexy. It is important to send across a positive message that lay emphasis on a woman’s innate worth and value her existence in totality.

All magazines, newspapers, television and the internet bear a social responsibility to send across visuals that teach girls to value themselves for who they are and not how they look. Everyone wants to look good and there is nothing wrong with it, but don’t get obsessed by the “how good you look” mantra. To look good it’s important to feel good and have a healthy mind and body. To look as stunning as Priyanka Chopra isn’t the only ways to woo your man. Neither is modeling or the fashion industry only way to be rich and famous.

Don’t be obese but don’t be a dead stick either. Value yourself and value your body. Don’t be harsh on yourself just because the model in the advertisement or the magazine wants you to. Value the fact that you are a woman, because every woman is beautiful in her own way. After all she is god’s most special creation!!

Value yourself and smile till I login again:-)

Media - Growing beyond limits...

There has been a phenomenal progress of India into the age of modernization and liberal thinking. Advent of new technologies, foreign investments, or global partnerships in the field of IT and computers, every change has come with a big bang. And, amongst all this, there is one sector, which correlates all these developments on the world platform. It is the very influencing “Media”. The face of print as well electronic media has transformed into a form that appeals to every section of the society. With all these developments, the debate of print media versus electronic media is also stirring up. But, the fact is that newspapers have always had a mind of their own. Role of press in freedom struggle or the worst days of emergency cannot be forgotten at any cost. Print media was the voice of the nation when satellite TV and 24 hours news channels did not existed. Moreover, in practical terms, reach of newspapers and magazines is far beyond the TV.

We are living in an era, which is completely driven by media and advertising. There has been a drastic change in the news reporting techniques and “yellow” journalism has become the trick of the business. Media, in its new form has the power to “brain wash” people and put words into their mouths. One word or one statement can make or break the society. Media has to aim at larger social good. On its way to expansion, it has made some noticeable impacts on society.

# Media has played a constructive role in spreading awareness about various social issues. Women empowerment, social advertisements on AIDS awareness, family planning, educating the girl child, had it not been the boom in the television and advertising industry, we would not have moved a little above the base line.

# Media has become central to public life and politics. Media shapes public opinion, reports and interprets various political events.

# Media has successfully put India on the international map of popular nations. Today, India is looked upon as a country with extreme potential in almost all fields. It is also responsible for the economic growth of the nation, increase in international trade and development in financial institutions. Media itself is an industry with lot of potential.

# Credit of popularity of Indian fashion industry also goes to advertising and communication. It has helped a lot in attracting international buyers to invest in India. What more, today we have specialized studies in fashion journalism.

# Co-existence of so many brands of one product is possible due to the magic of advertisements, which is yet another indispensable part of media.

Unfortunately, in some cases it has also spread the wrong message of “End justifies the means”. Some of the negative impacts on the society are:

# India is a huge country with a population over 100 million. So there are enough news stories from a comrade of news channels that are being delivered right in our living rooms. But the reality is that in order to raise TRPs news channels are either reporting information more than required or the much important issues are being neglected. Gossips have become a trading trick and they are packaged in a way that undermines the reality and main stories.

# Only a fool would deny that hundreds of hours of exposure to visual and verbal images of human depravity will have negative effects on young developing minds. TV and movies are a prime source of inspiration when it comes to youth expressing themselves by acts of violence. There are many TV shows that depict family breakdown, single parent household, high divorce rates and unwedded mothers. Very little is being done to stop the vulgarity and sexual immorality in TV shows which can’t even be segregated with A or U certificates as in the case of movies.

# Advertising too has an impact on society, especially on values and lifestyle. It plays a major role in influencing social values and has become a kind of a social guide. It encourages extravagant expectations.

# Last but not the least, media influences our lifestyle too. The clothes we wear, the accessories we sport and the shoes we buy, every thing is influenced by the trends set by the media and fashion industry. Even when we go out to buy furniture to redecorate our interiors, e emulate what we see on television, or in fashion or lifestyle magazines. Every teenager wants to be with whatever is “in”, in order to be popular. The youth today wears “right” clothes, listen the “right” music, watches the “right” TV shows and movies and be at the “right” place to hang out. In doing all these “right & in” things individuality and innovation of our young minds is being lost. It is even increasing the gap between the rich and poor.

What is needed in the present scenario is media literacy. It involves correctly comprehending, interpreting and analyzing both print and electronic media. Wrong interpretations can create chaos in the society. Print and electronic media must work hand in hand to for the benefit of the society.

Happy surfing till I login again :-)