2008 Woodie Awards
Barbie, G.I. Joe not so all-American
Experts say popular toys set impossible body, beauty standards
Lauren Scott/Features Writer
Issue date: 2/14/06 Section: Entertainment
According to www.pipeline.com, GI Joe's waist, if he were a real man, would be 32 inches, and the average American man's waist is 34 inches. His chest would be 44 inches, compared to 40 inches on an American man. His biceps were 12 inches, but a recent change to his stature put his biceps at a whopping 27 inches; the average American man has 13-inch biceps. GI Joe's measurements are ideal for bodybuilders, according to www.bodybuilding.about.com.
As western culture continues to stress physical beauty, there will be more cases of eating disorders for both men and women, according to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc.
Charlotte Dunham, director of women's studies at Texas Tech, said the media has an impact on the way people perceive themselves.
"When people watch TV shows of pencil-thin women it becomes the standard," she said. "When in actuality, we come in all different shapes and sizes."
A study done by Exeter University in England in 1998 examined 37,500 girls between the ages of 12 and 15. More than half of these girls said appearance was the most important concern in their lives.
The same study concluded more than half of teenage girls are or think they should be a diet. Researchers link this to the average of 40 pounds girls gain between the ages of 8 and 14.
Dunham said eating healthy is one of the most important things young women can do.
"Young women need to feel good physically so they can go out in the world and teach in classrooms and run corporations," she said. "People think that in order to have it all you have to be thin, but that is so unrealistic."
As western culture continues to stress physical beauty, there will be more cases of eating disorders for both men and women, according to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc.
Charlotte Dunham, director of women's studies at Texas Tech, said the media has an impact on the way people perceive themselves.
"When people watch TV shows of pencil-thin women it becomes the standard," she said. "When in actuality, we come in all different shapes and sizes."
A study done by Exeter University in England in 1998 examined 37,500 girls between the ages of 12 and 15. More than half of these girls said appearance was the most important concern in their lives.
The same study concluded more than half of teenage girls are or think they should be a diet. Researchers link this to the average of 40 pounds girls gain between the ages of 8 and 14.
Dunham said eating healthy is one of the most important things young women can do.
"Young women need to feel good physically so they can go out in the world and teach in classrooms and run corporations," she said. "People think that in order to have it all you have to be thin, but that is so unrealistic."
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