Collegiate Women's Body Image Dissatisfaction Influenced by Sex Roles and the Media

Past research has found that when women are exposed to media-ideal images of other women, they have more body dissatisfaction than when they are exposed to non-media ideal images of women. Minimal research had measured the... [ view full abstract ]

Past research has found that when women are exposed to media-ideal images of other women, they have more body dissatisfaction than when they are exposed to non-media ideal images of women. Minimal research had measured the influence of sex roles on women exposed to media-ideal images.  This study assessed 29 Adrian College undergraduate women, on how sex roles may influence personal body-image dissatisfaction after viewing media-ideal or non-media ideal images of women.  It was hypothesized that viewing media-ideal images would increase body dissatisfaction regardless of the participant’s sex role, and feminine or undifferentiated women would have more body dissatisfaction after viewing ideal media images than masculine or androgynous women. The results indicated that feminine women had more body dissatisfaction than masculine women after viewing the media ideal images.  This study brings to light how sex roles can impact body satisfaction in women, and reveals that not all media ideal images lead to body dissatisfaction in women.