Reducing Distorted Body Image Issues in Teenage Girls

Daniela M. Velluto  

Body image has in our society has become a popular topic over the past 35 years. In fact, 90% of body image studies have been published since 1980. (Voelker et al, 2015, pg. 149) The media and our culture has become obsessed with an unattainable image of women. Magazines and online articles criticize female celebrities for being too heavy or too thin. This unattainable image of women is brought into TV and movies. Stars might not mean to distort the image of what a beautiful woman is, but in order to be cast in most roles women are asked to meet an unrealistic criteria and if they don’t they don’t get the job. To become successful in “show business” actresses and models are being told to showcase unrealistic body types that most girls can't duplicate without severely hurting themselves and their health. Girls are being bombarded with ads telling them that with the right products they can be perfect too. Female characters in films, tv, and even kid’s shows are more than twice as likely (34.3% vs. 10.7%) to be thinner than their male counterparts. (Smith, Choueti, Prescott, & Pieper, 2013) When girls begin to compare themselves to their favorite stars, they usually feel that they are not pretty enough. Poor body image lowers the self-confidence in girls which and leads to depression, poor school performance, and risky choices. Social media has a great impact on the internalization of societal ideals in young girls. These social norms may be present in a girls life, however, these norms can be combatted within a girls family and social group when a healthy body image is taught.

Celebrities through a recent hashtag campaign on twitter called “#MeToo” were able to talk more openly sexual abuse and assault in the industry. Many of these stories highlighted the distortion of body image that they had come in contact with during their work in the industry.  During the “Women in Hollywood Event” Jennifer Lawrence spoke out about her experience with the predominance of distortion of body image in the industry. She said, “When I was much younger and starting out, I was told by the producers of a film to lose 15 pounds in two weeks. ‘Super easy’. One girl before me had already been fired for not losing enough weight fast enough, and during this time, a female producer had me do a nude lineup with about five women who were much, much thinner than me. We all stood side-by-side with only paste-ons covering our privates. After that degrading and humiliating lineup, the female producer told me I should use the naked photos of me as inspiration for my diet.” (J. Lawrence, Women in Hollywood,  17 October,2017)

Body image has is a major link in young girls’ disturbed eating patterns. These eating patterns affect the nutritional status of these girls and also leads girls into a spiral of depression and anxiety disorders. “Self-definition and individual identity which is influenced by various biological, psychological and social factors. Excessive concern about body image, body image misconception is leading to dissatisfaction.” (Rashmi et al, 2016, LC05-LC09)

This link between girls eating patterns and body image comes from the internalization of societal ideals of attractiveness. This is often referred to as, “Thin-ideal Internalization”. This is what happens when girls cognitively “buy into” socially defined ideals of attractiveness and then begin to engage in behaviors to become close to these ideals. 

A cross-sectional survey was completed in with 548 schoolgirls from 5th grade through the 12th grade in a working-class suburb in the northeastern United States. The questionnaire that was given to them and it assessed the impact they felt with their own body weight and how the images in magazines impacted their personal feelings about their weight and shape. “Of the girls, 69% reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of the perfect body shape, and 47% reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures. There was a positive linear association between the frequency of reading women's magazines and the prevalence of having dieted to lose weight because of a magazine article, initiating an exercise program because of a magazine article, wanting to lose weight because of pictures in magazines, and feeling that pictures in magazines influence their idea of the perfect body shape.” (Field et al, 1999)

This thin-ideal internalization can become deadly. Girls are more than ever looking to become skinnier through a concept called “thinspiration” or “thinspo”. These terms are used in when a person is seeking to loose weight or maintain a low body weight by looking at images of very thin celebrities, models, or people for inspiration. With this need to reach a personal "thin ideal" many girls find their “thinspo” online through pro-eating disorder (Pro-ED) websites online. 

“Using Google AdWords Keywords in February 2011, a series of search terms (based on previous research) were entered to generate search-related data regarding actual pro-ED terms used in Google, including the corresponding search results, which were coded for degree of potential harm. Results indicated that Pro-ED search terms are sought out more than 13 million times annually, with pro-ana (pro-anorexia)  receiving the most searches monthly.” (Lewis et al, 2012)

After accounting for BMI in a study of 629 boys and 659 girls in grades six through eight. It was found that girls with higher BMI felt a perceived pressure to attain a lower weight, felt stronger social comparison, and poorer perceptions of physical ability. (Voelker et al, 2015, pg. 149) 

I wanted to understand how we as individuals or in society can help create or support healthy body image. So, over the past several weeks I have been asking people over the phone, online, and in person their ideas on how we can change this current reality. These were some of the comments.

“We need to help teens understand that what the media presents as a healthy body image is often an absurd “ideal”and that even the people who are killing themselves to try and achieve it get photoshopped,” (J. Boyd, personal communication, 13 November, 2017)

“We need to acknowledge that sizes are just numbers and letters. At my healthy weight, I am a Large and size 11. My family genes prevent me from being a small. The Smith's are big, broad people. 

Also, instead of commenting on how someone's physical appearance is "you've lost weight”, make comments like "you look so healthy”. We need to get rid of the notion that weight is bad and skinny is good. (J. Goates, personal communication, 13 November, 2017)

“It is all relative. Next to some people I am heavy, next to others I am skinny. It is what is inside us that counts. Being healthy is happiness.”  (L. Phillips, personal communication, 15 November, 2017)

The responses continued, but each one came to a conclusion that the societal ideals of body image need to be changed, and that the emphasis of physical appearance needs to be replaced with an emphasis in a person’s character. However, changing the perception of the entire public is not an attainable solution. But, teaching girls about healthy body image is one of the ways we can create a true impact in their lives so that they can grow up happy and healthy. 

 
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 63 female students studying BBM course at a private commerce institution in Vijayapur city. A self-administered questionnaire was given and height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. It was found that 39.7% of participants were underweight and 15.9% were overweight/obese. The majority of underweight and overweight girls (72% and 89%, respectively) perceived themselves as normal weight. This study shows the difference of young girls’ body image perception and their BMI levels, indicating body image misconception. The lower literacy level of mothers and opinions of relatives and friends significantly influenced body image satisfaction among study participants. (Rashmi et al, 2016)

This study shows that the increase in body image satisfaction happened when mothers, relatives, and friends promoted a healthy outlook about body image. This helped improve the female student's outlook on their own body image. Teenage girls will feel confused or concerned about the physical changes that come with puberty and how they measure up to societal norms. But, when girls are taught that society has unhealthy standards of beauty by their family and friends they are more likely to feel good in their own ‘skin.’

References

Rashmi, B., & Patil, S. S. (2016). A Cross-sectional Study of the Pattern of Body Image Perception among Female Students of B BM College in Vijayapur, North Karnataka. Journal Of Clinical And Diagnostic Research, 10, LC05-LC09. doi:10.7860/jcdr/2016/20764.8180

Rukavina, T., & Pokrajac-Bulian, A. (2006). Thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction and symptoms of eating disorders in Croatian adolescent girls. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 11(1), 31-37. doi:10.1007/bf03327741

Lewis, S. P., & Arbuthnott, A. E. (2012). Searching for Thinspiration: The Nature of Internet Searches for Pro-Eating Disorder Websites. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(4), 200-204. doi:10.1089/cyber.2011.0453

Field, A. E., Cheung, L., Wolf, A. M., Herzog, D. B., Gortmaker, S. L., & Colditz, G. A. (1999). Exposure to the Mass Media and Weight Concerns Among Girls. Pediatrics, 103(3). doi:10.1542/peds.103.3.e36

Reel, J., Voelker, D., & Greenleaf, C. (2015). Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: current perspectives. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. doi:10.2147/ahmt.s68344

Goates, J. (2017, November 13). Reducing Distorted Body Image Issues [Online interview].

Phillips, L. (2017, November 15). Reducing Distorted Body Image Issues [Online interview].

Boyd, J. (2017, November 13). Reducing Distorted Body Image Issues [Online interview].

Lawrence, J. (2017, October 17). Women in Hollywood. Speech presented at Women in Hollywood Event in Hilton, Los Angeles.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality

World browser apps tend to be named and marketed more around the term “augmented reality” than any of the other media-concepts… Therefore, if we must continue using the term “augmented reality,” if only for the sake of being recognized as a part of that conversation, we should do so with the understanding that ubiquitous networks of interactive, graphical overlays transform—not (only) augment—the very ontological categories/relations by which we come to advance claims about realities.  - All the World’s a Link: The Global Theater of Mobile World Browsers: John Tinnell (3)

 I remember when I was around eight years old when my mom bought me and my brother the newest 90’s toy craze the “View-Master”. The View-Master is the trademark name of a line of special-format stereoscopes and corresponding View-Master "reels", which are thin cardboard disks containing seven stereoscopic 3-D pairs of small color photographs on film.(1) It was a virtual reality system for me. I used to put in these “reels” and I could emerge myself in a new reality. My mom bought reels of my favorite disney movies, and I would look at them all the time. 

Identification is a key term for the discussion of rhetoric in Kenneth Burke′s A Rhetoric of Motives. He uses it to evaluate the Burke suggests that whenever someone attempts to persuade someone else, identification occurs, because for persuasion to occur, one party must "identify" with another. (2)  They were realities that I loved. I always felt that when I looked through the special “binoculars” I was transported into another place. I could feel the love of the characters, and I could understand what they felt. I loved it there.

We were asked in my english college class to play the game “Pokemon Go” I am not really a game person, but I gave it a “Go”. Like the View-Master I was transformed into another reality. I could captured cute creatures from another reality. I gained  experience  and gained points. I felt as I was eight again.Transformed into a reality that I loved, and I could identify with my avatar. 

This virtual game helped me realize that even in the smallest of circumstances I could see Burke’s Identification come to place. We as humans when transformed into this “augmented reality” come a part of this new reality, and we become to identify even as a new person.

Citations

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View-Master

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_in_Burkean_rhetoric

3. http://enculturation.net/all-the-worlds-a-link

Please check out Rebbecca Adams' blog here

http://beckysblarney.blogspot.com/

A Letter To My Country

A Letter To My Country

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Matthew 5:43-45

I felt like I should write something. Many people, including me were and petrified from the outcomes of the presidential election that happened yesterday (more accurately this morning). I am not going to lie to you, I was dumbfounded and scared about what happened, but then I started to remember my childhood.

I remembered elementary school. I remember those early mornings when we stood up to recite the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’. I was tired most of those mornings, but I still got up, because I knew it was important.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The phrase “One Nation under God” still resonates with me today. “Under God” was placed into the Pledge in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It’s origination was started by Louis Albert Bowman, an attorney from Illinois. He stated that the words came from one of the best-known speeches in American history, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. These words can be found in the Everett, Bancroft, and Bliss copy.

“….that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

This address was delivered in 1863 to dedicate the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle was a turning point in the Civil War. As most people are aware the Civil War helped abolish slavery in the United States. It also gave us three new Amendments.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment guaranteed that citizens would receive “equal protection under the law,” and the 15th Amendment granted black men the right to vote.

I think “One Nation under God” is a powerful statement, especially now. There are many different views in this nation, different opinions….different points on or about anything. But, as we think about God (Or a greater being or thing then ourselves) we tend to become more unified. We all have different views, but if we underly it God’s principles we tend to understand what we as a country should stand for. And these words I think are clear in the first sentence of the Gettysburg Address…

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

“All men are created equal” Because God doesn’t have favorites. We may think he does, but he doesn’t. We as humans, as a people, we make classism.

That’s why I have become to love my name more and more every day. My name Daniela means “God is my judge.” Because what has happened throughout my life I have come to realize that the names, labels or judgements people make do not effect me, because the only thing that is important is what God thinks of me. God is my judge.

But from others I have seen many types of classism.

I have seen racism.

I think when I was about eight years old my older brother held both my adoptive siblings hands as we were walking in the library. My little brother is African American, and my sister is caucasian. I saw a man approach my older brother say something, and then walk away. I came up to him to ask him what he said. My older brother said “ He asked me how I could let her (my sister) associate with him (my brother).” In that moment, as a small child, I came to understand that racism existed.

I have seen bullying

I may tell you I have seen a lot of it in my lifetime. I have been spit on, tripped, pushed, called names, and made fun of in drawn pictures by classmates or in a game of ‘telephone’. There was a flock of boys in my middle school that used to throw spitballs in the back of my head, and trip me during class. I even saw my teacher see what was going on, however, he never said anything.

I have seen prejudice

I remember in second grade when a friend told me that the class next to the hall didn’t like me because “I was Italian,” They were learning about the WWII, and decided to take their hatred out on me.

I have seen homophobia

I had rumors go around in school that I was a lesbian. I remember a schoolmate laughing when she asked me with another student. I told her that I wasn’t, but in that moment I felt a little bit of how the LGTBQ feels. It was horrible, and that was only a small (very tiny) part of what someone from that community feels on a daily basis. I would just like to tell the community that you shouldn’t have to go through all that you do. I love you.

I have seen partiality.

I had many people throughout my life tell me that I was “too weird” to played with. Or that their group was “too full”.

I have seen thieves.

I remember in middle school I used to collect pennies, nickels, and dimes that I found around the school. I used to save them for December so I could give them to the Salvation Army. I was really excited when I got over $3. One day when a classmate went to grab gum out of my locker, he spilt all of the change on the ground. Before I could grab them, I saw all of my classmates around me pick up the money and take it as their own.

I have seen the love of the Mexican People.

I am part of the so called “Mormon Mafia” I served a mission for a year and a half for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Mexico. I never have been more touched in my entire life. I saw these people feed me when they had little food. They cared for me in small houses made of slabs of wood and concrete. They loved me unconditionally, no matter what I wore or how I looked. I have never loved a people so dear./

I am grateful for what I have seen. These things that I have seen made a mark and have defined who I am today. It has made me a person who wants to help others, who wants to stand up for other’s, who wants to lift others. Throughout my life I have tried to live by Ghandi’s famous words, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Now in America we must unite as a whole, especially now. There will be more prejudice, more hatred, more everything. We need to be the change we want to see in the world.

May we live by the words;

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

All men are created equal, because this country is “Under God”
Under God there is no prejudice.
Under God there is no racism.
Under God there is equality.

May we look towards God, because only he can Judge us.

Daniela Velluto

Citations

http://www.civilwar.org/…/hi…/10-facts-about-the-civil-war/…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/…/speech…/gettysburg.htm

Mezuzah and Invention

I have been thinking about religion a lot lately. I have been really looking at what I believe, and why I believe what I believe.  I am LDS. I have served a mission, and have grown up going to church and paying tithing. I am happy of who I am, however, I have been raised by parents who have taught me that other religious views and beliefs should be respected, and when possible learned or taught. I remember several times when Jehova’s Witnesses have knocked on our door, and my dad would kindly talk to them as they offered him a pamphlet, that he kindly would except. 

One of my fondest memories is when my father placed a Mezuzah on our front door. I  didn’t really understand why he would do such a thing, so I asked him to explain it to me. 

‘Mezuzah’ is the Hebrew word for ‘doorpost’. The Mezuzah is a piece of parchment that is usually contained in a small decorative case that is usually inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).

Our ‘Mezuzah has stayed on our doorpost for more than a decade. Through the my adolescence I have seen many people look at that Mezuzah as they came to our door. Some people have asked what it is, and some have asked why we have it on our door. My dad has explained several times the meaning of it.

I find that the symbolism is beautiful, and I have a deep respect for the belief behind it. 

We have been learning a lot about rhetoric in my English class. Rhetoric as defined by Burke was said to be, ”The use of words by human agents to form attitudes or induce actions in other human agents.” Rhetoric was used in ancient Athens to resolve issues and discuss disputes in their community. The disputes usually were talked through the process called “invention” which Aristotle defined as, “finding and displaying the available arguments on any issue.” As the people would listen to the arguments of another they would discuss their beliefs and decide on a final decision. They all knew that they all would need to listen to each person as they discussed their argument.

Living in Utah I am immersed with many people that have my own faith, and many who don’t. I have seen arguing in person and on social media of ‘who is right?’ instead of the most important question of ‘what is right?’. Discussions of belief usually are absent and replaced by a declaration of belief. Sometimes the ‘Christ’ I feel is taken out of Christianity. I have seen many posts lately on Facebook that try to minimize or make fun of other's belief systems. We all have our right of believing what we want. But, we don’t have the right to try to make someone believe what we believe, which I feel is done more often then not.

I have had the amazing opportunity to have friends of different walks of life.

Buddist.

Atheist. 

Baptist.

Homosexual.

Heterosexual.

Democrat.

Republican.

Liberal.

...The list goes on. Do you want to know what? I love them all.

 Their differences of belief has not 'shattered me', but has made me understand, and respect the individual more. I have even changed my outlook on several different subjects. ‘Invention’ has had an empowering effect on me throughout my life. It doesn’t make me a bad ‘Mormon' if I listen, understand, or respect another person’s beliefs or points of view. In my opinion it is a core principle of me being a good Christian.

Please Check out Rebecca Adam's blog post on rhetorical thinking:

http://beckysblarney.blogspot.com/

Citations

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999. Print.

Blakesley, David. The Elements of Dramatism. New York: Longman, 2002. Print.