By Carli Gipe, Media Management, 24′
This is an image of models that the company Aerie is using. Aerie is a women’s clothing store. This is an amazing representation of what women in society look like hence their Aerie real campaign, showing non photoshopped models in the media women of all races, and looks. In today’s society many women and girls struggle with eating disorders and body image problems due to images in the media that portray unrealistic bodies.
This conveys a realization that many females struggle everyday constantly seeing images of women and have this idealistic image that women should look a certain way. Women will go to extremes to try and maintain this “idealistic” look that the media portrays. When women try to maintain this unrealistic but idealistic look that the media portrays comes a struggle with self confidence, body image, and some even struggle with eating disorders which can lead to life threatening situations.
A lot of the time the media portrays a skinny, tall and flawless look. What a lot of people do not realize is that a majority of companies advertisements are photoshopped to make people look totally different than what they really look like. An example of this is Victoria’s Secret. Victoria’s Secret’s advertisements always show very photoshopped, tall and skinny women modeling.
Eating disorders are very dangerous health problems that conform a lot of the time because of images in the media. People will go to the extremes to try and look like this idealistic look that is portrayed every day. Social media is dangerous in this sense. Now more than ever, people are constantly on social media seeing these advertisements.
Body image problems are also a problem that the media instills in many women. Women will start to believe a warped perception of their body and then believe that they are too fat or too skinny or too short etc. Body image issues are more than just a warped perception of how one views themselves.
Something I found was a really creative idea was in the fitting rooms in Aerie. In there there was a pad of sticky notes and a pen. This allowed women to write an empowering, positive or encouraging message and then stick it on the mirror to remind females that they are beautiful. Some examples of the messages on the sticky notes would be “you are beautiful”, “love what you see”, “you are amazing”, “you brighten the room”, “never doubt your worth” and so many other saying to empower women and allow them to be happy being themselves.
The Aerie Real campaign put real images of women who are all very different in their advertising and in the media. The selection of models that aerie choses portrays that you do not have to have long hair, be tall and skinny. Aerie’s models are all different in their own unique way. The women are of all different races, different body types, tall, short, long hair, and short hair. Aerie is committed to no photoshop being used in their advertisements and to really allow girls and women see what real women look like and to know that’s totally normal. This campaign allows the feeling of body positivity and women empowering each other everyday.