Annotated Bibliography

Aubrey, J. S. (2007). The impact of sexually objectifying media exposure on negative body emotions and sexual self-perceptions: Investigating the mediating role of body self-consciousness. Mass Communication & Society, 10(1), 1-23. doi:10.1080/15205430701229584

In this article, Aubrey examines the effects of exposing women to images of other women who fit the cultural thin ideal, and the impact that exposure has on the subjects' perception of their own physical appearance.  In her study, the women consistently used more negative self-descriptors after being exposed to the images than without said exposure.

Aubrey, J. S., Henson, J. R., Hopper, K. M., & Smith, S. E. (2009). A picture is worth twenty words (about the self): Testing the priming influence of visual sexual objectification on women's self-objectification. Communication Research Reports, 26(4), 271-284. doi:10.1080/08824090903293551

This article is very similar to the one mentioned immediately before.  Women were exposed to images of female models with either a lot of exposed skin or images where only part of a female body is visible.  They were then asked to describe themselves.  The photos with a lot of skin appeared to cause women to be less satisfied with the way they look.  The photos of female body parts didn’t have as much of an impact.

Bergstrom, R. L., Neighbors, C., & Malheim, J. E. (2009). Media comparisons and threats to body image: Seeking evidence of self-affirmation. Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 28(2), 264-280. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=36909409&site=ehost-live

In this article, Bergstrom, Neighbors, and Malheim discuss whether or not women, who are very discrepant from the women shown in the media, respond to that threat by considering aspects of the self which are not related to physical appearance as being more important after exposure to those images.  The research shows that they do, indeed, affirm themselves based on internal characteristics after viewing images which threaten the value they place on their appearances.

David, P., Boyne, N., & German, T. (2009). Thinness portrayals of fashion models: Perceived body dissatisfaction in self and others. Visual Communication Quarterly, 16(2), 67-78. doi:10.1080/15551390902803812

This article is similar to the first articles I mention here.  Subjects are exposed to different photographs of models and then their body satisfaction level is examined.  The interesting part of this article is that it looks at how viewing the photographs affected the way women perceived other women’s bodies.  Viewing thin models made women view other women as less physically attractive.

Holmstrom, A. J. (2004). The effects of the media on body image: A meta-analysis. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 48(2), 196-217. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=15961572&site=ehost-live

In this article, Holmstrom provides evidence that the media’s depiction of thin women as having the ideal body type does not cause (or at least only causes very little) body dissatisfaction in women.  Her research also shows that depictions of over-weight women in the media increases body satisfaction in audiences.

Jerslev, A. (2006). The mediated body. NORDICOM Review, 27(2), 133-151. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=23814797&site=ehost-live

This article is really interesting.  Jerslev basically did case studies of television programming which she claims causes viewers to view the idea of a body as something which is meant to be transformed and modified.  She seems to avoid examining whether or not this is healthy or unhealthy for women’s attitudes towards themselves, and instead simply explains that this phenomenon is occurring and how these television programs create those ideas.

Smeesters, D., & Mandel, N. (2006). Positive and negative media image effects on the self. Journal of Consumer Research, 32(4), 576-582. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=20373888&site=ehost-live

Smeesters and Mandel, in this article, set out to explain whether or not exposure to thin or heavy media images will have positive or negative effects on audience’s body image.  They found that it depends on how heavy or thin the model is, and the way the body image is measured.  Participants were 84 females.  It was found that the more extreme the condition of the body of the model, the more impact was evident in the body of those 84 females.

Sohn, S. H. (2009). Body image: Impacts of media channels on men's and women's social comparison process, and testing of involvement measurement. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 17(1), 19-35. doi:10.1080/15456870802505670

This study was done to determine the differences between the body dissatisfaction of men or women caused by socially comparison to television programming and magazines.  Sohn found that men found fewer differences between themselves and the men portrayed on television, where women felt they did not compare to the women in the programming.  The interesting part of this was that the article suggests this is likely because there is less variety in the physical appearances of women on television as opposed to men...whose characters show more variety in appearance.  Magazines caused a nearly equivalent comparison levels in both men and women. 

Tiggemann, M., & Amy Slater, A. (2004). Thin ideals in music television: A source of social comparison and body dissatisfaction. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 35(1), 48-58. doi:10.1002/eat.10214

This article was interesting because it focused specifically on music television.  Its claim is that, like the title suggests, music television is a form of media which causes viewers to compare themselves to the individuals depicted in the programming.  The result of the study was evidence that viewing music television which depicted thin women increased body dissatisfaction in female audience members.

Watson, R., & Vaughn, L. M. (2006). Limiting the effects of the media on body image: Does the length of a media literacy intervention make a difference? Eating Disorders, 14(5), 385-400. doi:10.1080/10640260600952530

This article positions itself uniquely in this discussion.  Watson and Vaughn consider whether or not educating women about the pressures put on them by the media has the potential to reverse the negative effects the media can hypothetically have on a woman’s body image.  The results are that education can decrease body dissatisfaction.

That's all...