Lab 6

Body Image

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? The answer should be yes, but if you answered no, you may have negative body image issues. Body perceptions and body image have been associated with self-concepts, such as self-esteem and self-efficacy, and can play an important role in your lifetime fitness. Ones negative body image is usually accompanied by negative self-talk. If you have the Wellness textbook, self-talk is further discussed on pages 312-313.

Though body image issues have typically affected women, male body image issues are on the rise. This can easily been seen in the change of action figures as they have become more muscular over the past couple decades. As young boys and adolescents play with these figures, they envision the ideal male body as extremely muscular. For the most part, this vision is unachievable an unrealistic for most without the use of steroids. This male body image has been reinforced by the number one type show watched by young adolescent males – TV wrestling.

Male or female, understanding body image issues not only helps an individual have a healthier understanding of how it effects their lifetime health and fitness, but also helps them realize how perceptions effect those around them. As a mother, your body image perceptions -- positive or negative -- can be passes to your children (especially daughters). As a father, how you talk about women and others -- positive or negative -- provides perceptions that are passed to your children (especially sons). If you are in a relationship, understanding your partners body image issue can help you to better relate and understand them so you are not contributing to those issues -- but helping. Too many times the significant other (usually the guy) is a main contributor to a women's body image issues.

Discussion Preparation

Review the following materials and statistics, then start a thread in this week's Discussion Board and respond to two others for a total of three contributions.

Please follow the due date listed in the Calendar of Assignments.

Jean Kilborne has been looking at the relationship between body image and the media for the past 3 decades and has produced several videos on this topic. View the video clips and read the study guide:

Summary and Video Clips: Six minutes of the video. Please note, the video contains some controversial materials and very skimpy clothing, but all the material shown comes from mainstream media sources. The Real Media Player plugin is required to view this video. Download Free RealPlayer.
Study Guide: Online read-only video study guide. Printable Acrobat file .pdf).

Statistics

At least 1 in 5 young women, in America today, has an eating disorder.
One recent study of fourth-grade girls found that 80% of them were on diets.
Twenty years ago, the average model weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today, the average model weighs 23% less than the average woman.
Only 5% of women have the body type (tall, genetically thin, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped, long-legged and usually small-breasted) seen in almost all advertising. (When the models have large breasts, they’ve usually have had breast implants.)
The obsession with thinness is used to sell cigarettes.
4 out of 5 women are dissatisfied with their appearance.
Almost half of American women are on a diet on any given day.
5-10 million women are struggling with serious eating disorders, many of which can lead to death.
In 1979, companies spent $20 billion on advertising. In 1999, companies spent $180 billion on advertising.
The average American views 1500 advertisements in a day. And some up to 3000.
The average American will spend 3 years of his or her life watching television commercials.
Advertising is the foundation of the mass media. The primary purpose of the mass media is to sell products.
Advertising not only sells products, but also values, images, concepts of love and sexuality, romance, success and normalcy. In recent years, computer retouching has become a primary technique used by advertisers. Before photographs are published, they are digitally retouched to make the models appear perfect. Complexion is cleaned up, eye lines are softened, chins, thighs and stomachs are trimmed, and necklines are removed. Computers can even create faces and bodies of women who don’t exist.

Additional Resources

Provided below are information and links that will help prepare you for the lab discussion. One of the main focuses will be the role media plays in the development of ones body image.

Addressing Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Eating Disorders: Semester II Independent Inquiry by Kelly Small, University of Calgary.
Body Image and Advertising: Very nice reference list. Media Scope Issue Briefs summarize topical issues and social science research on the media and provides up-to-date statistical information and historical reviews.
Body Image Statistics: Learn the numbers regarding body image... What You Need To Know About Women's Issues with Nikki Katz.
Tips for a Better Body Image: Feeling Good About Yourself: Read point 4. By Dixie Feldman. The N.
Positive Body Image: Online conference transcript by Dr. Deborah Burgard, who specializes in women's issues, particularly eating, weight, and sexuality concerns. HealthyPlace.com moderator.
Girls to Women: Negative body image is a major factor behind tobacco use and substance abuse, both of which are rising among girls. By Joe Kelly. Mothering magazine. March-April, 2000.
Eating Disorders and Body Image in the Media: By Heather Mudgett. Suite101.com. September 4, 1998

Participate in the discussion

Click on Blackboard's Discussion button and scroll down to find, read, and participate in this week's discussion. To read the Discussion Threads efficiently, follow these instructions:

Open a forum.
- Click Show Options.
  - Use the check boxes to select the messages you want to view.
  - Click Collect in the options.
Read the text from all the selected messages.

Print them if necessary.

Respond to posts individually.
Please follow the due date listed in the Calendar of Assignments.

Contributions will be graded on their relevance, thoughtfulness, and degree to which they reflect an engagement with the reading and not just with unsubstantiated opinions. Start one thread and respond to another for a total of 2 contributions.