This document summarizes the agenda and topics for a class on body image. The class will include a discussion of the documentary "The Mask You Live In" and an overview of body image, which involves one's perception of their own body and how others perceive them. Key topics that will be discussed include the unrealistic expectations created by media and society, especially for women; the prevalence of dieting, eating disorders, and negative body image among teenagers and young women; and movements promoting body acceptance and challenging societal expectations.

1. Body Image
HED 425-001
10.14.15

2. Today’s Agenda
 Check in
 Mask You Live In
 Lingering questions from class Monday
 Overview of our class
 The review session
 Note cards

3. Body Image refers to the way we perceive our own bodies and
the way we assume other people perceive us.
“Body image involves our perception, imagination, emotions,
and physical sensations of and about our bodies. It’s not static,
but ever-changing; sensitive to changes in mood, environment,
and physical experience. It is not based on fact. It is
psychological in nature, and much more influenced by self-
esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by
others. It is not inborn, but learned. This learning occurs in the
family and among peers, but these only reinforce what is learned
and expected culturally.”
[Lightstone, 1991]

4. The Facts
 One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% (More than half) of American girls are
“unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
 Dieting is the most important predictor of new eating disorders. Differences in the
incidence of eating disorders between sexes were largely accounted for by the high
rates of early dieting in the female subjects.
 The weight-loss industry brings in at least $55.4 billion in revenue per year

5. Pretty.

6. What Creates Expectations?
 The idea of what makes a woman
desirable.
 Self Expectations
 Striving for perfection
 Women are the most critical of each
other.

7. Eating Disorders
 Occur primarily among people in Western Industrialized countries.
 Approximately 80% of Americans who seek treatment will not receive adequate
treatment
 The key to success of beating a disorder is early intervention
 Disordered Eating Behaviors
 Anorexia Nervosa
 Highest death rate of all psychiatric diagnoses
 Bulimia Nervosa
 Binge-Eating Disorder

8. How Are Expectations Reinforced In
Society?
The Power of Marketing
 Objectification
 Media exposure has been found to constrain young women’s conceptions of femininity by putting appearance
and physical attractiveness at the center of women’s values.
 We internalize messages communicating values subconsciously
The Power of:
 Media
 Movies
 Magazines
 Celebrity
 Etc.
 We form habits
 Ex: checking the mirror constantly,
 The way we talk about ourselves when we eat/ when we don’t feel 100%
 Expecting other to also have negative thoughts about themselves

9. How Do We See Behaviors Manifest?
Examples:
 The “thigh gap”
 “Skinny Arm”
 Can you think of others?
 When is image not a thing anymore?

10. Does It Always HAVE To Be This Way?
 What’s changing?
 How can we start personally combating the expectations?
 What’s changing in society?
 Dove campaigns
 No retouching campaigns
 Celebrities admitting to bodies being manipulated
 What’s wrong with being fat?
 The girl making comments/redefining fat
 What can we do to help others?
 Focusing on conversations OUTSIDE of looks, shopping, boys, etc.
 What makes a person interesting beyond their image, what is that person’s substance
 Where to learn more: Jean Killborne

11. Body Acceptance Movement (BAM)
 Today [Oct. 14th] is Love Your Body Day!
 http://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/
 Kent State BAM
 https://www.facebook.com/KsuBAM?fref=ts