FMP Questionnaire + Results

I have conducted a questionnaire and given them out to 60 people, 34 females and 26 males. The questionnaires were just slightly altered to fit both genders. I wanted to find out people's views on the topic of beauty and the media, I wanted to see how affected people felt by what they were exposed to on their day to day lives.

FEMALES:

Question: 'Would you say, the way women are portrayed within the media has an effect on the way you view yourself?'

YES- 67.6%
NO- 32.4%

Some of the reasons given for why the media has an effect:

• "Women are stereotyped to look a certain way, be a certain size etc. through advertisement. I want to be an ideal size."
• "The media lowers confidence sometimes, you tend to measure your attractiveness against the women there."
• "I constantly look for parts of my body or face or hair or whatever which aren't perfect like the airbrushed models+celebs in the media."
• "The media surrounds us of women looking flawless. Men then have this idea of women and expect this of us!"
• "Sometimes I compare my body weight."
• "If adverts are good, you don't think they're affecting you."
• "I feel unfashionable, my make up isn't good enough- men wont like me. I'm never happy in myself."

Question: 'Do you wear make up?'

YES- 85.3%

NO- 14.7%

Some of the reasons given for wearing make up:

• "I am less self conscious with make up."
• "I look unwell without make up."
• "Competition."
• "To hide my hideous skin."
• "I prefer the way I look with make up."
• "Habit."
• "Confidence."
• "It's fun and I feel prettier."
• "To feel more feminine."
• "To express myself."

Question: 'Would you ever consider plastic surgery?'

YES- 33%

NO- 67%

MALES:

Question: 'Would you say, the way women are portrayed within the media effect the way you view women?'

YES- 61.5%

NO- 38.5%

Some of the reasons given for why the media has an effect:

• "Stereotypes."
• "The media idealises "perfect woman" in the media"
• "Made to think the way women in the media are viewed is acceptable."

Question: 'Would you ever consider plastic surgery?'

YES- 4%

NO- 96% 

Through this questionnaire I have found that the media, especially advertising plays a big part on how the younger generation is made to feel about themselves and about each other. They are aware, it is not just unconsciously happening, we all register what we see up on billboards and in magazines and purposely strive to be it, eliminating true happiness from our lives as we will never feel good enough by sticking by the idea of just being ourselves.