The Effects Of Exposure To Feminist Ideology On Women's Body Image

Body image disturbance has become an increasing problem among women (Cash & Henry, 1995). Thus researchers have begun to focus on methods of prevention and intervention. Programs utilizing psychoeducation and Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory, for example, have been found to reduce body image dissatisfaction and related symptomatology. The information provided and potential impact are limited, however, because the interventions do not offer women an adaptive method of interpreting the many appearance-related messages they experience. This study sought to determine if exposure to feminist theory of body image may act as a buffer – a filter through which cultural messages about thinness and beauty are challenged. This feminist schema may provide an alternative interpretation of cultural messages, thereby increasing body image satisfaction. Participants were exposed to one of three interventions (feminist, psychoeducational, control). Exposure to the feminist condition resulted in increased physical appearance satisfaction and likelihood to self-identify as a feminist when compared with the control group. While findings were not extensive, they are nonetheless promising due to the brevity of the intervention.

Author dc:creator

• Peterson, Rachel Diane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tantleff-Dunn, Stacey

• body image
• feminism
• disturbance
• intervention
• women
• Psychology

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

CFE0000467

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-1371