Shaped by media standards

By: Krystle

The media has been silently dictating on how a “normal” person should look like. With commercials targeting on what they deemed to be less acceptable in a person with the sole aim of making sales have triggered an insecurity debacle among society in accepting themselves.

Insecurity refers to the uncertainty or anxiety about oneself and lack of confidence.

Due to this on-going battle with insecurity discretely fought by the society, Hashtag has conducted some interviews to get an insight on how the media has impacted them mentally as well as what they do to overcome their feelings of self-doubt.  

Among the 20 interviews conducted, 20 have admitted to experiencing insecurities while being exposed to the media.

Justwin, 22, a student who thinks that she is overweight, says “people always call me fat because my body size is nothing like the runway models or most celebrities, which in the end has led me to think no different. The media has portrayed a much distorted image of beauty and it’s depressing for people who were not born ‘beautiful’’.

As we approached a working adult, Andy, 40 who works as at Holiday Inn, says that while he watches movies like Batman or Mission Impossible, he constantly feels discouraged that he could not possess their luxurious cars and items. Instead, he has to survive daily with only RM20.

Moving on, we asked the interviewees how they combat their insecurities.

Nikki, 19, a student in Penang, who has been obsessed with Korean Pop music (K-POP) admitted that she would usually refuse to leave her home when a huge pimple appears on her face. She also complains on how small her eyes appear and the shape of her face. Consequently, about a year ago while travelling to Korea with her family, Nikki had decided to undergo cosmetic surgery to improve her outlook. “When I watch Korean dramas or read their magazines, I can’t help but to notice their flawless skin and amazing facial features. Yes I am aware that they undergo plastic surgery, but I just can’t help but to want to look like that too for it will really help with my confidence” she said.

While we asked working adult, Adeline, 25, an administrator at Motorolla on how she combats her insecurities, she answers that she would try to emulate influential people on billboards, the internet and other mediums of media by the way they dress or what they do to mask her insecurities hence appear more professional among her co-workers. She even buys products endorsed by celebrities in hopes that it will be more effective than products which are not endorsed. Adeline adds that “there must be something good about the product that has caused these celebrities to recommend them”.

All In all it seems that our interviewees felt much better if they looked like their favourite celebrities as they feel that they will achieve beauty by looking like them.

However, Women’s Health Online Magazine reveals that even celebrities have insecurities. Published on February 13th 2014, world famous singing diva, Madonna made a confession to Entertainment Tonight. “I have a love/hate relationship with my body,” she said. “Some days I’m happy with it and other days... I wasn’t born with Gisele Bundchen’s (world’s highest paid model) body, unfortunately, so you got to work for it—but it’s okay.”

“It was pretty shocking, considering that Madonna has always been known for her great physique despite her age” Women’s Health Online Magazine reports.

Moreover, a survey looking into body image conducted by BT Sport website reveals 80% of female athletes feel pressure to look a certain way.

Nonetheless, the high expectations from the media have not always been bad. Some claimed that it has turned them into much better people.

Sheikh, 24, a student from SEGi College Penang, who used to be overweight, expresses that “if it were not for the media’s portrayal on how a person is expected to look like, I would not have dropped seven shirt sizes (size XL to M). I feel great to actually look normal now”   

Arnish, 24, who works as a personal trainer says that watching television shows that constantly feature perfect physiques and facial features have triggered his insecurities so much that he had decided to start body building to attract people’s attention to his body instead of his face. However, he expressed that he would not have been a healthier person if it weren’t for media’s portrayal of beauty. “Not only do I feel healthier and good about me now, I often get compliments for my determination to body build and get hired for jobs more easily”, he said.

Adeline, 25, has learnt from celebrities on how to speak and act confidently. She expresses that the media has improved her vocabulary and taught her to speak more fluently.

As we went along to get an educationist’s point of view, Jeffrey, 57 from INTI Kuala Lumpur, stated that what the media portrays is uncontrollable. However, the perceptions of an individual can be changed and controlled. Therefore, it is best to surround oneself with friends and family who are supportive and loving of who they are. Subsequently, positive and encouraging words from them could do wonders to a person’s self-esteem thus, could even help them to start embracing their flaws and turn them into growth.

In conclusion, the media’s distorted portrayal of beauty can either break a person or create a whole better lifestyle. It just depends on how they let it affect them.