Since the 1960s, members of the media have designated what looks good, what’s in-style and what everyone should look like. Starting at the time of rail-thin model Twiggy Lawson and lasting to today, super-skinny models have become the standard for beauty in today’s society. The media’s opinion suddenly holds as much sway over what teenagers wear as their parents’ and friends’ opinions. Hoover students are just as susceptible to this influence.
Junior Kate Hornbrook said she considers the media’s opinion when it comes to dressing up to go out.
“I’m definitely influenced, and I think everyone is to some extent,” she said. “If we weren’t influenced by the media, how would we know what to wear?”
However, on the other side of the spectrum, senior Jon Bishop said he could care less about the media.
“I’m not influenced at all, and I think a lot of people are,” Bishop said. “Anyone who wears Hollister or is willing to pay $80 for jeans is probably influenced.”
Bishop also said he believes the influence of the media can be positive and negative.
“It depends, but I’d say the good of the media is outweighed by the bad,” he said.
Hornbrook said the negative aspects of the media seem to outweigh the good.
“It can definitely be negative, especially depending on how people perceive it,” she said. “I don’t think that the media generally intends to make people feel bad about themselves, it just kind of happens that way.”
The trend of the media designating how to look began in the 1960s, with the arrival of model Twiggy Lawson. Lawson earned the nickname Twiggy (after being called Sticks and Twigs) because she was so thin. According to a variety of websites, Lawson started the “heroin chic” trend that modern model Kate Moss and her contemporaries have learned to embody.
This thin, gaunt look has become a staple of fashion today and puts a negative pressure on girls.
Sophomore Nick Harrison said he believes girls are more affected by what the media dictates.
“It seems that guys just have less problems than girls do with that kind of thing,” he said. “Girls go to media outlets more often, and they look to them for advice.”
Hornbrook said that girls go to TV and magazines for advice on how to dress and act.
“Magazines cater to girls more often,” she said. “They have all of those make-up ads and stories on how to dress.”
Bishop said he sees how negatively the media affects girls.
“I hate people like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson,” he said. “I hate how people like that make it okay and even cool to be stupid. It’s so annoying when you’re in math class and girls miss a question just to get attention.”
On the other hand, Harrison said he sees most of the negativity in how girls dress.
“I don’t follow any particular celebrities in the media, but when they dress really scantily, it seems to encourage high school girls to do the same,” he said.
Harrison added that he doesn’t understand why people–regardless of gender–don’t just dress like themselves.
“I don’t think I’m as influenced as much as others, and I’m fine with who I am,” he said. “I think other people should be, too.”
However, a survey conducted by USA Today in 2006 showed that many teens do not feel this way. A majority said they wanted to embody certain celebrities, down to getting a piercing or tattoo if their favorite celebrity had a similar one.
“I think certain celebrities like Paris Hilton are just terrible influences,” Hornbrook said. “She has nice clothes but she has a terrible personality.”
However, Hornbrook also said she can see where some positive celebrity influences.
“People like Hayden Panettiere are good role models,” she said. “Panettiere dresses nicely and acts positively, and there are a few celebrities like her that are good for younger kids.”
Bishop also said there are some positive outlets in the media today.
“There are some good organizations, like with MTV and some other groups. Vote or Die was one, because it encouraged duty to your country and being part of something bigger than yourself. It wasn’t something bad,” he said.
While there are positive aspects of the media, the consensus among all three was that the media is generally negative for teenagers today.
However, Bishop believes that by being yourself, you can avoid the destructive qualities.
“People need to choose their own style instead of copying celebrities and other people and trying to do what’s cool,” he said.
Harrison said he feels the same way.
“You don’t need to impress the media or anyone else, he said. “People need to look at good role models and be themselves.”