Disordered Eating
Body Image
The video to the right shows a quick experiment where women are photoshopped to look "ideal" in terms of how society believes women should look.
It also discusses how social media impacts our body images, noting that children who have not yet experienced social media are more innocent and do not struggle as much with their body image as compared to those who do use social media. |
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While this video isn't specifically about body image, it shows why it is unfair to ourselves to compare our lives to the lives we see on social media. People post what they want you to see, even if it's not the truth.
It would be good for a discussion on how social media impacts our body image, as it creates unrealistic expectations and impossible goals. |
Like the video above, this video goes on to show why comparing yourself on social media is is making you unhappy (thus the name of the video).
While the first video shows how people only post what they want you to see, this video shows how an addiction to social media and constantly comparing our lives is hurting our relationships and self-image. |
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The videos to the left and right are both about body image and the way we see ourselves. The left involves women, while the right involves men.
Please note that the video to the right is recommended for an older audience and may not be school-friendly past the 4min mark. |
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Movies, Messages, and Stereotypes
When watching these videos and discussing them, ask everyone to think about what messages the videos are sending about body image, expectations, stereotypes, etc.
Beside each video is a brief blurb about what the video is about, the stereotype(s) is perpetuates, the messages it sends, etc.
Beside each video is a brief blurb about what the video is about, the stereotype(s) is perpetuates, the messages it sends, etc.
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Paul Blart: Mall Cop (14A, trailer is PG)
This movie is about Paul Blart, who is a mall cop aspiring to become a police officer. Due to his diabetes and weight, he has not been able to reach his goal and is not taken seriously. The movie perpetuates the stereotype that "overweight" people are not taken seriously and are more for laughs. Despite the mall being robbed, the movie is still a comedy and constantly makes fun of Blart's weight, eating habits, etc. |
Dumplin' (PG13, trailer is PG)
This movie is about a young woman who is considered overweight and is struggling to meet the expectations of her mother (a pageant queen), peers, and society. She enters a beauty pageant as a form of rebellion against societal expectations. The movie aims to promote body positivity and acceptance, however it still makes a big deal out of someone's weight. Why is it such a big deal for someone like Dumplin' to enter a beauty pageant? Why does it have to be revolutionary? |
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To The Bone (18A, trailer is 18A) use of "F" word
This emotional movie is about the recovery of a young woman who struggles with a serious case of anorexia nervosa. We join her as she works through family problems, her eating disorder, past trauma, and more. To the Bone shows viewers what it is like to live with and recover from anorexia, and shows how it affects different people in different ways. |
Shallow Hal (18A, trailer is 14A) see thumbnail ->
Hal is a shallow man who is only interested in skinny, pretty women. When he is hypnotized to see beauty on the outside as it is on the inside, he falls in love with a woman who is considered obese. This movie does try to portray a message that beauty is on the inside and that outside appearances don't matter, however it still perpetuates the idea that overweight people are unattractive and a joke. The movie is a comedy, and many of the jokes are at the expensive of weight, food, etc. |
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I Feel Pretty (14A, trailer is PG13)
Renee is a woman who wants nothing more than to be skinny and pretty, and thinks that all of her problems if life will be solved if she can achieve this goal. When she bumps her head, she suddenly sees herself differently and becomes a different person. This movie is a comedy and makes quite a few fat jokes, but it does send a message that our appearances do not matter as much as we think we do. If we are confident and love ourselves, and surround ourselves with positive people, that is what matters. |
Sierra Burgess is a Loser (14A, trailer is PG)
Sierra is a teenager who is often bullied due to her appearance, and she has very low self-esteem and self-confidence. When she and a boy start talking by accident, she is afraid he won't like her because of how she looks and she uses a "prettier" teenager to pose as her to woo the boy. This movie aims to prove that beauty is on the inside and not the outside. While Sierra was initially bullied for her looks, she learns to love herself for who she is and others do the same. |
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