We hear sayings every day like “Appearance doesn't matter; beauty is only apparent,” and yet we live in a decade that contradicts this very notion. If appearance doesn't matter, then why do so many women beat themselves up because they're unhappy with the way they look? If appearance doesn't matter, then why does the media use airbrushing to cover up a person's flaws? Indeed, as the media sets unattainable standards for bodily perfection, American women have taken drastic measures to live up to these impractical societal expectations. “The construct of “body image” tends to include a mixture of self-perceptions, ideas, and feelings regarding a person's physical attributes. It is linked to the self-esteem and emotional stability of the individual” (Wykes 2). As every aspect of our media shows, whether through television, the internet or social media, we are exploited to a degree we wish we had; a toned body, long legs and well-defined abs. Our society promotes a "beautiful" body image and a far cry from the average woman's size 12, not 2. The effects are overwhelming and we need to make more appropriate changes to help women not feel the need to be up to the task. to these unrealistic standards that have imposed themselves throughout our society. The plain truth, however, is that things haven't always been this way. If you look back to the 1950s, iconic sex symbol Marilyn Monroe embodied the typical standard of beauty by being a size 14. “She was every man's dream girl and every other woman's envy. She was beautiful, charming, and exuded the aura of an angel – or so we hear” (Waters 2). We are constantly evolving in our thoughts about what is ideal and for this reason there is...... middle of paper ......ization of the thin ideal and perceptions of attractiveness and slimming in Dove's campaign for real beauty " International Journal of Advertising 29.4 (2010): 643-668. Business Source Premier. Web. February 14, 2014. Gibson, Megan. "NewsFeed." Thinterest When Social Networks and Body Image Collide Comments. Time.com, March 29, 2012. Web. March 11, 2014. Hass, Cheryl J., et al. “An intervention for the negative influence of the media on body esteem” College Student Journal 46.2 ( 2012): 405-418. Heldman, Caroline. “The Sexy Lie: Caroline Heldman at TEDxYouth@SanDiego YouTube, January 20, 2013. Web March 13, 2014. Waters, Preston.” Elite Daily. Elite Daily, March 2, 2012. Web. February 13, 2014. Wykes, Maggie and Barrie Gunter. The media and body image: if looks could kill. London: SAGE, 2005. Print.