Pick up a magazine off the shelf when you’re in line to buy groceries. As you flip through it, you will notice ads and photoshoots scattered throughout the layouts of beautiful women, all thin and with flawless faces.
This is a lie.
Pretty much every picture that we see in the media has been edited and altered. Computer software can remove zits, trim down unwanted love handles and even create a “thigh gap.” This is what Photoshop is all about.
The purpose of Photoshop is to make the ad or person seem more appealing. If the model looks like that, then the product must be good. Or, that person is perfection; I want to be just like them.
However, the effects of photoshop are more harmful than that. It gives girls and women of all ages an unrealistic image of what beauty is and how they should look. Instead of inspiring potential customers to buy products, they are inspiring self-loathing and dissatisfaction, making them want a look that is only attainable through digital enhancement.
Target has recently brought Photoshop to the news. While some photos are sneaky with their Photoshop, this photo was very blatant. In the photograph of a swimsuit-wearing model, the model in the photo had her arms down to her mid-thigh and there was a huge block taken out to create a “thigh gap.”
This has caused a lot of controversy and upset with Target, who has issued a formal apology for the incident.
This didn’t stop people criticizing and poking fun at this incident. During her show, Ellen DeGeneres showed the picture and decided to interview the model, Tanya Marie Keller, about her side. When Keller walked out, she had on a long-sleeved dress to cover up her long “arms” (obviously fake.) She claimed everything was real, including the square down below. The looks Ellen gave pretty much summed up our reaction.
This was a satirical interview, but the point was very evident. This shows the ridiculousness of Photoshop in a different light.
Why would we want to create unrealistic images in the media that don’t exist and cannot be attained?
Now, don’t get me wrong; we all participate in a little Photoshop every day. Our cameras come with a cropping tool to eliminate parts of a picture that we don’t like. Instagram and Snapchat come with filters to change the way our pictures are perceived.
Photoshop is never going to be truly eradicated. However, we can change the way these women are perceived in the media. By making them more natural and normal looking, we can start heading towards a mindset of a healthier body image among women.
There are many different kinds of beautiful; not just the overly skinny blonde in the Cosmo on the shelf. It’s time to start showcasing something different.
