Activity 3: Blog Entry

Question: Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1. 

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen? 

Answer:

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 Whether you admire them or not, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber do play a big role on influencing people. Bieber and Cyrus influence people by their actions and music, some good and some bad. They are part of a culture where teens and others want to act like them or dress like them. Just because they are celebrities doesn't mean that they can get away with anything. People don't seem to be aware of that. They are both talented and young, so making mistakes is okay, but to a certain extent. They have to know that there are little kids who don't understand their actions, so they are affecting all types of people and age groups. 

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A way to overcome social pressures is establishing who you really are. Determine where you want to go in life and keeping yourself humble and grounded helps. You have to live in reality and learning from mistakes. Those are ways to become a better person and maybe instead of looking up to celebrities, it might be better to admire a friend, mom, dad, sister, etc.  

Self Image: Activity 2

Questions: Find images in the media, which have been used to represent attractive and unattractive aspects of the human face. Examine and record carefully the photographic techniques used to accentuate both these qualities, drawing up a list that relates to the images you have found. List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions: 

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes? 
2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?

Physical Characteristics that we have come to admire about both the female and male faces would be: 

• the face structure itself, (symmetrical) 
• cheek bones
• youthfulness of face
• eye color and shape
• distance of the eyes
• perfectly shaped eyebrows
• heart shaped upper lip
• even toned skin
• nose shape and structure 

1. I do believe that media images and public opinions are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes because everyone's definition of beauty is different. Something you might think is ugly, might be beauty in someone else's eyes. Being beautiful is much more than a physical aspect, it can also mean having a beautiful heart or emotions. Beauty is such a big misunderstanding that stereotypes become a big part of it. People are not on the same page, when it comes to beauty and truth is, they never will. People should just learn to accept  that everyone is different and to never judge by first appearance or stereotypes. If people learn those things, then they should have no problem with stereotyping others.  

2. Admiring media images of glamorous models, is not necessarily a bad thing. It's totally okay to say they are pretty or are very fit. It does become an issue when young adults start comparing themselves to them. That's a problem because their self-esteem lowers and depression comes in. They  think that in order to be considered pretty you have to look like a Victoria Secret model or a Calvin Klein model and thats not true at all. Some model's starve themselves or lose to much weight and of course it's not their fault, but the example the agencies are giving young people is not a good one. Not everyone has to look the same or be thin. It's all about feeling comfortable in your own skin, no matter what shape and size you are.

Self Image: Activity 1

What follows is a list of categories that serves to define and divide us. Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed. 

1. Age/generation - is can dictate levels of independence afforded to the individual. 
2. Gender - Our sex affects the way we are treated by some individuals. 
3. Race - Prejudice and perceived racial superiority can affect hopes and aspirations. 
4. Religion - Moral codes and ideologies that serve to guide, unite and divide. 
5. Class or caste - A classification that an individual may never escape from. 
6. Personality - Extrovert and introvert are classifications of personality. 
7. Intelligence - educational establishments, based on IQ, often segregate us. 
8. Political persuasion - Left wing or right wing. Each carries its own ideology. 

1. I am seventeen years old and my generation would be a teenager living in the 21st century. 
2. I am a female.
3. My race or ethnicity is Hispanic or Latina.
4. My religion is Catholicism.
5. My class is middle class.
6. My personality would be bubbly, caring, kind, and generous.
7. I don't consider myself a smart person. I think I am a little less than average, but not dumb.
8. When it comes to Political persuasion,I get persuaded by accurate tactics, but emotion plays a big part in persuading me.