do you think photo retouching contributes to negative body image?
an image retouched by Greg Apodaca.
These images show just how much digital manipulation can change the way people appear in the media. Magazines especially have come under fire for "perfecting" people on their pages. Critics say that such tweaking contributes to unrealistic body ideals/expectations and a negative body image for many women (and increasingly, men). What do you think? Are the critics right?
448 member responses
In this instance, the before photo looks healthier and seems more likely to give someone a negative body image. Her real (and therefore realistic) body does conform to magazine standards, so why doesn't yours?
I think everyone, regardless of size should be in magazines, even if only to increase the market or to stop people from complaining.
I don't think retouching does much. Has anyone reading this ever blurred out a blemish or the bags under your eyes before you post it online? Photo editing makes things more pleasant to look at. People depicted in magazines should be seen as (incredibly commercial) art and as part of a design instead of someone they might run into. --Posted by stolenelectron 04:08PM EST 09/02/08
wow.tara,
Are you crazy? That is exactly what get them to start an eating disorder it is not dumb. When people see modles who look perfect they start hating themself because they are not pretty enough to be in a magazine, and they think they are ugly. I know because I think I am that way but it is not about me it is about all the woman who think those fake woman are pretty and they are not. I hate how people can't think of themself as pretty it doesn't even matter it is what is inside that makes you beautiful. --Posted by stylinsam1 11:07AM EST 09/02/08
okay. just because they changed it up a bit does NOT mean its gonna give teens eating disorders. that is the stupidest thing ive ever heard. but i do think they shouldve left it alone. i know it makes me feel a whole lot better about mysellf. --Posted by wow.tara 10:02PM EST 08/20/08
.......
this pic is so true. girls shouldn't have to deal with this! she looked FINE before they changed it! they should think about what they're telling the world. -_- --Posted by broadway_chick94 11:50PM EST 01/03/08
....FaKe
what ever happened to natural beauty? are you trying to get the teenagers to all have eating disorders and by they're 21 to have had at least one plastic surgery opperation? It makes people feel like they need to live up to them standards when the standards are unrealistic and FAKE. --Posted by brattygurl101 03:01PM EST 10/25/07
i agree
photoshopping is unrealistic. --Posted by supercookie 01:19PM EST 09/18/07
I think that both pics look fine...
She looked fine before the changed the pic. --Posted by pinklions22 11:20PM EST 07/18/07
so stupid
I personally thought she looked better before they messed with the way she looked. I definitely believe that this is wrong. Let em fill you in on a true story. My older friend who I think is gorgeous just got married. she was a virgin and was ready to give herself to her husband on her wedding night. He couldn't get it up! for five freaking nights they tried!! until finally he looked at some porn. you know where that woman aren't real. she was crushed her own husband couldn't make love to her without looking at another womans digitally altered image. I am terrified what if this happens to me. --Posted by lily_ann_sabrina 05:46PM EST 07/06/07
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