Self Image & the Media

When it comes to people feeling down about themselves or being unhappy about the way that they look, everybody has heard the age-old argument “it’s all to do with the media”.

The idea that the media gives us role models with unattainable beauty, fitness, health etc is nothing new. And this being used as the reason for some people having serious insecurities about their body image – perhaps even illnesses like anorexia or body dysmorphic disorder – is something I have seen happen time and time again.

It’s only natural that, in a society where the media has become a hugely powerful institution, the things it presents us with seep into our subconscious – making us view things in a certain way, and possibly changing the way we see other people and ourselves.

The theory makes sense and the logic behind it is simple. But my problem with it is its simplicity.

Credit: Kate T, Flickr.

A person’s relationship with their body is very complicated, as is the media’s relationship with its audience and all of the other factors contributing to how a person sees themselves.

So surely using such a simple theory as an explanation of all of this only degrades the experiences of those struggling with their self image?

I’m going to put a slight disclaimer in here and say that I’m not an expert, and unfortunately I don’t have my own revolutionary theory that’s going to help end this problem once and for all, but I do find it insulting that this is one of the only major explanations to have been developed in this area.

In my opinion, not everybody who is feeling insecure about the way that they look is feeling that way because they’ve looked at a picture of Kendall Jenner on Instagram. There has probably been a wide range of factors affecting their sense of self and, although the media may be one of these, it can’t be the only one.

The media argument is a great start at trying to understand the concept of body image, but I just think there needs to be more time and effort put into coming up with alternatives. All we’re doing at the minute is boxing everybody up into the same category, when really we should be recognising that no two people are the same and trying to understand them on an individual level.

Makeup & Confidence

Credit: Hayley Bolan, Flickr.

It’s difficult as a makeup wearer to convince people that I’m confident with my natural appearance. To an outsider I must look like I’m deeply insecure about the way that I look if I don’t take the time to ‘put my face on’ in the morning.

Of course I have the usual insecurities every once in a while, for example if my skin is breaking out or I’ve not had a lot of sleep and I look and feel like death warmed up, but I’ve never seen makeup as a way to cover up or something to hide behind.

Naturally in a world where women’s flaws are pointed out and exaggerated in every advertisement for cosmetics, some of us are bound to feel like we ‘have’ to buy Revlon’s new concealer for £7.99. But my relationship with makeup doesn’t really stem from that basis.

For me, makeup is more an extension of myself as a person. I love to experiment with different styles and looks, and I enjoy creating new things. When I look at models in magazines and think ‘I want to look like that’, it’s not because I think I’m unattractive, it’s because I’ve identified with whatever image that model is projecting and want to incorporate it into my own sense of style.

It’s not that I lack confidence and so need to put makeup on to feel good about myself – I am sure enough in myself to walk down the street without any makeup on whatsoever. It’s just that I feel more like I’m expressing myself when I do wear makeup, because I know I’m projecting the kind of image I want to imprint on the world.

Everyone has an idea of the type of person that they want to be, and it’s not unhealthy to want to create a good impression. Nor does it mean you’re insecure. I’m not claiming that by wearing makeup I’m being my ‘true’ and ‘natural’ self, but it seems absurd to me that women are labelled as ‘unconfident’ and ‘insecure’ for wearing makeup when, really, all they’re doing is having the confidence to be the person they want to be, and create the impression they want to create.