 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and the Western world and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2023) |
Body shape refers to the many physical attributes of the human body that make up its appearance, including size and countenance. Body shape has come to imply not only sexual/reproductive ability, but wellness and fitness. In the West, slenderness is associated with happiness, success, youth, and social acceptability. Being overweight is associated with laziness. The media promote a weight-conscious standard for women more often than for men.[1] Deviance from these norms result in social consequences.[2] The media perpetuate this ideal in various ways, particularly glorifying and focusing on thin actors and actresses, models, and other public figures while avoiding the use or image of overweight individuals. This thin ideal represents less than 15% of the American population.[3]
- ^ Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, and Kelly (1986). "The role of the mass media in promoting a thin standard of bodily attractiveness for women". Sex Roles. 14 (9–10): 519–532. doi:10.1007/BF00287452. S2CID 145217363.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Grogan, Sarah (2008). Body Image Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women, and Children (Second ed.). Psychology Press.
- ^ Harrison, C.R. & Robinette, K.M. (1998). "CAESAR: Summary statistics for the adult population (ages 18–65) of the United States of America" (PDF). Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2012.