In the article, "Media Images Are Unrealistic" written by Hilary Rowland, ethos plays a big part in relaying the argument that the media promotes unrealistic images of women. The author uses quotes from models and actresses as evidence to help support her argument and give it credibility. Rowland argues that thinness is a "domino effect," where actresses compete to please the media with their thinness (Rowland). This race for obtaining a thin body hurts women and even men, due to the media advertising the perfect body. Society is fed by the media images of women who are praised for their thinness and beauty. This has a negative impact on the way women and young girls see themselves, which demotes self-confidence. The author also incorporates logos and pathos along with ethos to affectively get her message across to the reader, however, the author could have used more of the pathos appeal to support her argument more efficiently. Through her use of Ethos, the author effectively discusses that women should not focus on the images in the media because they are fake and enhanced.  

According to the Carolina Rhetoric, ethos is used to persuade the reader's of the author's credibility, which " ... colors all the arguments, examples, and quotes the rhetor utilizes in his or her text ... a speaker or writer can enhance his or her own credibility by incorporating references to quotes or the actions of authorities or leaders" (The Carolina Rhetoric 109). The author argues that images of models and actresses are touched up, and uses Elizabeth Hurley, a model, as support for this claim. Elizabeth Hurley admits that her breasts on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine were enlarged electronically (Rowland). This is false advertisement for young women who read these magazines and Rowland uses Hurley's claim to provide evidence that technology is used to produce false images. This is an effective way to support the author's claim and boost her credibility. The author continues to use ethos because it appeals to her readers that she is a reliable source. She quotes Christy Turlington, a model, as she explains to Elle magazine, " ... when women see pictures of models in fashion magazines and say 'I can never look like that,' what they don't realize is that no one can look that good without the help of a computer" (Rowland). This is another example of a model admitting that the pictures are unrealistic, which adds credibility to Rowland's argument and is effective in appealing to the readers. Invented ethos is created in this article because the author gives herself credibility from her knowledge on the subject. The author of this article has to prove to the audience that she is a credible source, therefore she has to invent her ethos. The author has done her research on the matter of the media advertising unrealistic images of women. She uses the situated ethos of models and actresses in society to build up her invented ethos for her readers. Therefore, in using the credibility and experience of the women who are portrayed in the media, the author invents her own credibility by proving her knowledge of the subject to the audience. This is a good technique to show that reader that the author has reliable sources to back up her argument, and then adds to the author's situated ethos. The author is effective using the ethos appeal because she uses credible sources to back up her argument, which gives the article evidence and convinces the readers that she is a reliable source.

The author also incorporates logos and pathos into her argument. The author uses Hurley's experience as logos to show women that it is a logistic fact that breasts and other details of the body can be enlarged. The author uses an emotional appeal within the argument to reason with women to try and stop comparing themselves to the false images in magazines and in the media. The author is directing her argument to a women audience, and therefore uses pathos to show that women should not allow the media to diminish their self-esteem, when technology removes flaws such as bulges, pimples, and stretch marks. The addition of the two other appeals is an effective way for the author to continue to support her argument.

 The author could have incorporated more of the pathos appeal in her article, because her main audience is women she could have pulled more of an emotional side to her argument. The author could have persuaded through an emotional response because women understand the pressures to constantly look good and be skinny therefore they can relate to other stories on a personal level. To allow the readers to connect personally with the article, the author could have incorporated more experiences from models who understand the unrealistic advertisements the media portray. Also, using stories and examples from young women who have succumbed to the pressures of looking perfect and how that drastically changed their life. These stories would connect to the readers and allow them to understand what is really going on behind closed doors of magazines and advertisements, and that there is no such thing as a perfect body. This connects better to the reader than the author trying to boost her credibility or trying to list facts, it creates an emotional connection to form from women in society who all struggle with the way they perceive their body. 

The author has used the appeal of ethos to effectively argue that the images of beauty advertised by the media are diminishing women's self esteem. She uses ethos through including quotes and experiences from models and actresses to add to her credibility as a magazine writer. This is an effective way to show the reader that the author is knowledgeable about the subject she is arguing. However, the author also incorporates the logos and pathos appeals in her argument. The logos effectively provide readers with factual information about a healthy weight and how magazines create enhanced images through technology. The pathos appeal creates an emotional connection with the women audience, however, the author could use this appeal more in her argument because the readers have their own experiences with body image and can benefit from this article. The author has effectively stated her argument by using the ethos appeal, and incorporating logos and pathos.

