Body Image
Thesis: Although the beauty industry believes that they are not to blame for eating disorders and
that women have a choice in their appearance, the truth is women are being harmed by the
obsession of being thin and the unrealistic beauty standards promoted by the beauty industry.
I. It is true that some people believe the fashion industry is not to blame for eating
disorders because women do not have to follow the body image that they
promote.
II. However, the beauty industry fails to see that the choice isn’t as simple as they
imply.
III. In addition, a man named Ken Harris admits that he feels some guilt for what he
does for a living.
IV. Most importantly women feel the need to fit in when really they should focus on
self acceptance.
V. Therefore, images that are promoted by the beauty industry and media are to
blame for certain eating disorders and other health problems.
Do we really need to be thin to look good? Many women feel pressured to be thin when
they are bombarded by media images of a “beautiful” woman. Many of us have heard of extreme
cases where women have become anorexic, for example, or bulimic to try and conform to the
media images. In addition, a large number of women try dieting and exercising to the point of
being unhealthy and not giving their bodies the nutrition it needs. Although the beauty industry
believes that they are not to blame for eating disorders and that women have a choice in their
appearance, the truth is women are being harmed by the obsession of being thin and the
unrealistic beauty standards promoted by the beauty industry.
It is true that some people believe the fashion industry is not to blame for eating disorders
because women do not have to follow the body image that they promote. Women, they assert,
have a choice. Franke-Ruta, author, claims “that a woman can choose whether attaining beauty is
worth the work,” (Franke-Ruta Garance… 1 of 6). Some critics of the beauty industry fail to see
that “natural beauty” and the desire to be accepted as they are is a matter of choice. The beauty
industry says that every woman can be beautiful if she chooses to be and that the way women
present themselves and their forms is a matter of their own discretion. Franke-Ruta states that,
“the beauty industry is not the problem it is part of the solution,” (Franke-Ruta Garance… 2of 6).
