Body Image Hanna Seferos Definition of Body Image

Body Image Hanna Seferos

Definition of Body Image “a person’s perceptions, feelings and thoughts about his or her body and is usually conceptualized as incorporating body size estimation, evaluation of body attractiveness, and emotions associated with body shape and size”

role of media, childhood teasing, familial and sociocultural influences and depression Sources of Negative Body Image self-esteem, internalization of the thin/muscular ideal, social comparison with idealized models, gender roles, self-surveillance, body size stereotyping and social identity Ideal body portrayed by the media is becoming narrower and more “culturally homogenous in the 21 st century”

Effects of Negative Body Image on People More likely to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Eating Disorders, depression, decreased relationship satisfaction More likely to compare themselves to others and struggle with social identity Particularly with men, are more likely to use steroids and other drugs to fit the muscular ideal. Evidence that girls as young as 3 years old internalize thin ideal

Increase in reliance on media for news and entertainment Role of the Media These sources put forth the impossible standard we are pressured to follow Media outlets are owned by a few wealthy corporations and they have all of the power or project whatever messages they want https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=W 2 UZZV 3 x. U 6 Q

Gender and Body Image Women are generally more susceptible to negative body image due to the historical overrepresentation of the women’s ideal in the media. Important to talk about negative body image in relation to men as well Research is on male and female identities, leaves out other gender identities

The “Women’s Ideal” This ideal is seen as “slim but full-breasted, described as ‘the physically impossible, tall, thin and busty Barbie -doll, ” but also, with a toned body with nonvisible muscles In a study of American girls age sixteen to nineteen, 43% reported body dissatisfaction, even though their body mass index scores were in the healthy range for that standard Women tend to overestimate their body size, while men tend to underestimate their body size

The “Men’s Ideal” Men are expected to be muscular with an average build, a slim waist and low body fat In one study, 35% reported being dissatisfied with their body (Grogan, S. , 2010)

Race and Body Image Researchers previously believed that people of color were immune to body image disturbance because of their race and culture Now recognize that is not the case, just as susceptible People of color are not being represented in the data and are being compared to the ideal white western standard

Race and Body Image In a focus group study of 15 African American college women, all participants reported feeling pressured to comply with the media’s beauty standards. Lack of women of color represented in the media and distorted images of women of color that either reflect white standards or negative racial stereotypes

Socioeconomic Status and Body Image Limited access to recreational facilities, unequal educational opportunities, differences in consumption standards and different social pressures for thinness Healthy food is also inaccessible and unaffordable for many people Studies show that in low income neighborhoods, there were three times the number of convenience stores and only half the number of grocery stores

Activity! https: //youtu. be/GXo. ZLPSw 8 U 8

Capodilupo, C. M. & Kim, S. (2014). Gender and Race Matter: The Importance of Considering Intersections in Black Women’s Body Image. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61(1), 37 -49. doi: 10. 1037/a 0034597 Chau, C. N. , Zoellner, J. M. & Hill, J. L. (2013). Availability of Healthy Food: Does Block Group and Income Matter? Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 8(1), 22 -38. doi: 10. 1080/19320248. 2012. 758063 Esther, V. (2013). Supporting Women with a Negative Body Image. Practice Nursing, 24(3), 137140. doi: http: //dx. doi. org/10. 12968/pnur. Grogan, S. (2010). Promoting Positive Body Image in Males and Females: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 63(9), 757 -765. doi: 10. 1007/s 11199 -010 -9894 -z References Kollei, I. , Schieber, K. , De Zwaan, M. , Svitak, M. , & Maritn, A. (2013). Body dysmorphic disorder and nonweight-related body image concerns in individuals with eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(1), 52 -59. doi: 10. 1002/eat. 22067 Kozee, H. B. , Tylka, T. L. & Bauerband, L. A. (2012). Measuring Transgender Individuals’ Comfort With Gender Identity and Appearance: Development and Validation of the Transgender Congruence Scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36(2), 179 -196. doi: 10. 11770361684312442161 Paap, C. E. & Gardner, R. M. (2011). Body Image Disturbance and Relationship Satisfaction Among College Students. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(6), 715 -719. doi: 10. 1016/j. paid. 2011. 06. 019 Parker, S. & Keim, K. S. (2004). Emic Perspectives of Body Weight in Overweight and Obese White Women with Limited Income. Journal of Nutritional Education and Behavior, 36(6). 282289. doi: 10. 1016/S 1499 -4046(06)60396 -5