The Influence of Media and Beauty Standards
Media constantly promotes idealized images—perfect jobs, cars, homes, and flawless beauty.
One major influence on women’s self-image comes from the fashion industry, starting young for many, often with their first Barbie doll.
Barbie, created in 1959 by Ruth and Elliot Handler, was meant to inspire girls to imagine their future.
Ironically, she became a symbol of unrealistic beauty standards. “Rather than being a fashion and body image icon, she was supposed to encourage ideas of their future.”
Meet Tara Jayne: A Real-Life Barbie
Cosmetic nurse Tara Jayne took her admiration for Barbie to extremes, spending over $200,000 on plastic surgery.
She’s undergone multiple nose jobs, five breast augmentations, and frequent Botox and filler injections.
Tara says her procedures are about more than appearance: “I think it’s very important for a woman to be able to express the way they feel…
Just express everything about beauty in this day and age.” She also adds, surgery lets her “express beauty and empowerment.”
