Directions

Each group should have one picture depicting what a teenager "should" look like from the pictures students brought to class. Each group will be discussing one of three factors that impact body image: culture, mass media or advertising.

Discuss how this key factor influences body image.

Each person in the group selects one question off this sheet to discuss further with the group.

Decide what the primary message your picture is communicating. Have one person from your group report what your group determined.

Discussion Questions:

• Does this preteen/teen model represent the "perfect" body?
• Can a pre-teen or teen "fit-in" if they are not dressed in the popular styles?
• Is a person that looks different from the media's representation of "cool" less worthwhile as a person?
• How does our culture view attractiveness? How does this differ between men and women?
• What image do the models project?
• What does the ad want you to feel? What does the ad want you to think?
• Who do you think this ad would appeal to?
• What does this ad not show?
• What is the health message in the ad?
• Why are people willing to risk their health to get a perfect body?
• Why is the reality that people come in a variety of shapes and sizes ignored when people try to have the "ideal" body image?