Women are exposed to advertising and media messages every day through every platform, so their potential to impact women's self-image is high. Interested to learn how much influence these messages have; I took to the streets of New York City to speak with a diverse group of women about their views on the subject. They shared opinions such as "When brands advertise about plus-size bodies, I feel more inclusive and empowered," and "I was affected negatively growing up because there was one image of beauty and that was an image I never fit."
For me, advertising and social media have affected my perception of myself both positively and negatively. I believe part of the solution is taking control of the content we see online: Unfollow the celebs and brands advertising products that make you feel like you need to change and find those who promote self-care and self-love. It makes a huge difference when you can be confident in checking social media without worrying about harmful content.
As female consumers, we want to know that the media and advertising industry truly understands the impact of their messages and works with us to help us embrace our true selves.
Here's the full video of my conversations. How would you answer the questions I asked?
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The opinions expressed here are the author's views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet.