Discussing the Increase in Negative Body Image among Women

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Recently, a lot of controversy has been in the news about the increase in negative body image among women. This negative body image can lead to a number of different problems in individuals including low self-esteem, eating disorders, and depression. Some factors that can influence this increase in negative body image include age, gender peer influence, and family influence. One of the main factors that has been an influence on the way people view themselves is the media. According to Aubrey (2006), “a primary way that an objectifying culture is propagated is through the media” (p. 159). Everything from magazines, television, and celebrities can have an affect on the way people view themselves. The population that is most affected by this problem in our society is young women. Social comparison, which is when someone compares their own body to other’s bodies, is a common factor for thin-ideal internalization and dissatisfaction of their body (Bessenoff, 2006, p. 239). Literature review Although body dissatisfaction is most popular in young women, the age of onset is much younger. Cusumano and Thompson’s research (as cited in Dohnt & Tiggemann, p. 141) suggests that the age of onset is preadolescent girls (ages 8-11) where young girls start to feel body dissatisfaction and the idea of being thinner. In a study done to research body image in girls as young as 5-8 years old, it was found that concerns about bodies start at that young age (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006, p. 148). Because the desire to be thin starts at such a young age, it usually gets worse as girls get older. The more that they are exposed to the media as they get older has a lot to do with it. In another study, it was found that regardless of the media type,... ... middle of paper ... ...5.00107.x Dohnt, H. K., & Tiggemann, M. (2006). Body image concerns in young girls: The role of peers and media prior to adolescence. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 35(2), 135-145. doi:10.1007/s10964-005-9020-7 Krahé, B., & Krause, C. (2010). Presenting thin media models affects women's choice of diet or normal snacks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 349-355. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01580.x Ridolfi, D., Myers, T., Crowther, J., & Ciesla, J. (2011). Do appearance focused cognitive distortions moderate the relationship between social comparisons to peers and media images and body image disturbance? Sex Roles, 65(7), 491-505. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9961-0 Tiggemann, M., & Polivy, J. (2010). Upward and downward: Social comparison processing of thin idealized media images. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 356-364. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01581.x

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