Advertising is a powerful educational force in our culture due to the simple fact of exposure. Economics is also a significant factor in the development of the ideal image. Many businesses depend upon the desire for thinness to survive. Exercise and diet companies are an example. In order to create a market for their product, they attempt to make women feel inadequate about their own bodies through advertisement.

This manipulation of perception on what is "ideal" leads to concern in relation to the teenagers of this country. The television set has become one of the most influential technologies of all time, replacing real role models and teachers. The media teaches them what is attractive, feminine, cool, sexy, or romantic. Just by sheer exposure, the television has more effect on a child than his/her parents. Parents may provide verbal instruction and restrictions, but teenagers no longer learn primarily through verbal, but through pictures and images with great music like in Nike commercials (Moore).

minutes spent looking at models in a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful (Taylor 41). Finally, the question remains...is this healthy? Is the current image for the "ideal woman" healthy for the wome

Some common words found in the essay are:
Marketing American, women feel, american woman,
Approximate Word count = 562
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)