Pressure to be perfect: Influences on College students' body esteem
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Sheldon, Pavica [1]
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[1] Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Southern communication journal, ISSN 1041-794X, Vol. 75, nº 3, 2010, págs. 277-298
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Young people today live in an environment in which looks are of utmost importance, social support is low, and pressure to achieve the cultural ideals of attractiveness is high. The average American woman is 5'4'' and 140 pounds, whereas the average female model portrayed in the media is 5'11'' and 120 pounds. Although a survey of 224 college students showed that perfectionism and media use were not related to students' body esteem, higher family and peer pressure and a high score on perfectionism influenced women to compare themselves to the models in fashion magazines and on television. High family and peer pressure also influenced men's body esteem. Because comparisons to models in fashion magazines negatively influence women's body image, women should be encouraged to examine the possibility that the bodies of magazine models are just photoshopped images with unreal body measurements. Feminism may empower women and men to act together to eliminate sources that threaten their body satisfaction and healthy eating.
