What do people I know think?

In order to find out what people my age think I am going to design a questionaire and hand it out to range of young people to collect the results. I will then analyse them and use it within my research.



This questionnaire is part of my research for my extended project on people’s perception of body image I would greatly appreciate it if you could fill this in anonymously so I can use your feedback.

1. Are you:
Male
Female

2. Which age bracket do you fit?
12-14
15-17
18+

3. Are you happy with your body?
Yes
No

4. What do you think is the ideal size?
6
8
10
12
14
14+

5. Does the media industry and our obsession with celebrities influence the way you perceive both your and other peoples body image?
Yes
No
Please state why ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6. Which skin colour do you think is more attractive:
Pale
Tan

7. Do you feel pressurised into having a tan because of the sunbed culture?
Yes
No

8. Celebrity diets and fitness regimes are constantly in the public eye, would you follow their routines just because they are advertised in magazines ECT?
Yes
No
If yes please state why ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9. Do you agree with airbrushing?
Yes
No
Sometimes
Please give any further details or opinions ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Professional opinion

Here are some quotes from professionals and people within the government on what they think about things like the sexualisation of images and the effects they have on young people today:

An independent review into the sexualisation of young people, conducted by psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, was welcomed by Home Secretary Alan Johnson today.
Commissioned by the Home Office, the review forms part of the government’s strategy to tackle 'Violence Against Women and Girls'(VAWG) and looks at how sexualised images and messages may be affecting the development of children and young people and influencing cultural norms. It also examines the evidence for a link between sexualisation and violence.
Key recommendations include:
• the government to launch an online 'one-stop-shop' to allow the public to voice their concerns regarding irresponsible marketing which sexualises children, with an onus on regulatory authorities to take action. The website could help inform future government policy by giving parents a forum to raise issues of concern regarding the sexualisation of young people
• the government should support the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) to take steps to extend the existing regulatory standards to include commercial websites
• broadcasters are required to ensure that music videos featuring sexual posing or sexually suggestive lyrics are broadcast only after the 'watershed'
• the government to support the NSPCC in its work with manufacturers and retailers to encourage corporate responsibility with regard to sexualised merchandise. Guidelines should be issued for retailers following consultation with major clothing retailers and parents’ groups
• games consoles should be sold with parental controls already switched on. Purchasers can choose to 'unlock' the console if they wish to allow access to adult and online content.
Dr Papadopoulos has worked closely with the Home Office in developing the current national awareness campaign targeting violence within teenagers' relationships. A pack for teachers and pupils to accompany the campaign will shortly be made available to all schools. The government is also committed to introducing the subject of violence against women and girls and gender equality into the national curriculum, both of which are recommendations outlined in this review. The full list of recommendations will now be considered in more detail.
Statement from the Home Secretary
Alan Johnson said, 'We know that parents are concerned about the pressures their children are under at a much younger age, which is why we have already committed to a number of the recommendations in this report.
'Changing attitudes will take time but it is essential if we are going to stop the sexualisation which contributes to violence against women and girls.
'I would like to thank Dr Linda Papadopoulos for producing this review, with recommendations which will contribute to the ongoing debate around this complex issue.
'We will now consider the full list of recommendations in more detail and continue to ensure that young people’s development and well-being are a top priority.'
Statement from Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos
Dr Papadopoulos said, ’As a psychologist and as a parent, I welcomed the opportunity to take a critical look at the sexualisation of young people.
'Over the past few months I have spoken to many people including young people, parents, teachers and professionals and it is clear to me that this is a very emotive issue.
'I wanted to ensure that this was not an opinion piece, but a review based on real data and academic research which will help generate further debate and inform decisions about how to address these issues going forward.'
Statement from the Children’s Minister
Delyth Morgan said, 'Children today are growing up in a complex and changing world and they need to learn how to stay safe and resist inappropriate pressures. That is why we are making Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education statutory so that we can teach children about the real life issues they will face as they grow up.
'PSHE already includes teaching about advertising and body image and from 2011 will include issues around violence against women and girls. The PSHE curriculum is age appropriate to give children and young people the right information at the right time to help them make the best choices and to develop their confidence.
'We are supporting schools with new guidance to help raise awareness among teachers about violence against women and girls, so that they can prevent and respond to these issues, and to show them how to address it in the curriculum.
'We have also recently launched a new campaign Click Clever Click Safe to help children and young people understand some of the risks they are exposed to when they go online. This will give parents the confidence to help their children enjoy the internet safely.'

Examples of airbrushing

Here are just some examples of photos of well known celebrites which have been airbrushed before being released into the public eye. The left hand side is the original photo and the right is the airbrushed version:

What is Airbrushing?

Airbrushing is the term that we hear more and more often these days but what does it actually mean? If a photo has been airbrushed it means that it has been digitally enhanced im some way to make it look different. This may seem like a remarkable tool however airbrushing also comes with many dangers. Magazines use airbrushing to edit the way the photographs look which means that more often than not the models we see inside the magazines dont look exactly like the end product yet readers still strive and aspire to be like the photograph, and this can sometimes lead to self asteme issues and more.

What will this blog contain?

I am a pupil at Heworth Grange Comprehensive School and for my extended project I am looking into young peoples perception of body image, and in particular the use of airbrushing within the media industry. This will be a showcase of my findings and will feature regular updates of my work.
I chose the topic of airbrushing because it is something that interests me and young peoples perception of body image is a pressing issue within todays modern society.