Reshaping Body Image How are overweight and obese people treated in our society?

Directions 1. I am going to show you 5 pictures. I want you to write your first impression for each picture. (No discussion )

A. What are your first impressions?

B. B

Discussion What were some of the first words that came to mind about these people? Did you have any impressions about the health and happiness of each person? What were they? Did you have any impressions about the level of intelligence or success of each person? What were they? Did you write down any words about how attractive or unattractive each person is? What words did you use? Were your “first impressions” of the women different from your feelings about the men? How about the white people as compared to the people of color? Did you write down any words about the body size or shape of each person? Which ones? What words did you use to describe their bodies?

Size Is there anyone who did not think about the size of these people? Although each person looks happy, healthy or active, the first impression many people have is about their body size 2. Where do we get our ideas about what body shape & size is attractive & healthy? 3. What are some negatives about how we obtain information and/or are influenced by this information? Ideas in our society are so ingrained that most of us take them for granted & accept them as natural & normal.

History Up until the 20 th century, stoutness was associated with good health, affluence & elevated social status, while thin people were often regarded as poor & unattractive From the earliest times, depictions of human beings – such as the Venus figurines & sculptures of fertility goddesses – celebrated large size as a sign of well- being & prosperity In WWI, concerns about food shortages led to claims that gaining weight was unpatriotic 1930s-40s: anti-fat attitudes took hold 1950s: medical inventions (surgery & drugs) were introduced to fight fatness 1960s: models like Twiggy replaced more voluptuous figures like Marilyn Monroe

now Lillian Russell Actress and Sex symbol, early 20th century (200+ lbs) Lillian Russell Actress and Sex symbol, early 20th century (200+ lbs) then Angelina Jolie Actress & Sex symbol, 21 st century Angelina Jolie Actress & Sex symbol, 21 st century

now Babe Ruth Pro baseball player, early 20th century Babe Ruth Pro baseball player, early 20th century then Mike Trout Pro baseball player, 21st century Mike Trout Pro baseball player, 21st century

now King Henry VIII 16th century King Henry VIII 16th century then President Obama 21st century President Obama 21st century

nowthen Miss America contestant 1950s Miss America contestant 1950s Miss America 2013 Miss America 2013

Cross-Cultural Comparisons Western standards of beauty are not universal. In central Africa, Massa men are made to drink milk for 3-month periods to produce large, radiant bodies that symbolize beauty In other African cultures, women also enter into “fattening periods” to increase their beauty & fertility Moroccan Saharawi women use drugs, traditional suppositories, inactivity & overfeeding to fatten themselves in preparation for marriage Pacific Islanders find a fuller figured body – representing status, power, authority, wealth & fertility – most attractive Countries that rank high on individualism (Australia, Poland & the U.S.) show greater anti-fat attitudes than those ranked lower on individualism (India, Turkey, Venezuela)

there American dancer ballet American dancer ballet here New Zeland dancers performing Maori haka New Zeland dancers performing Maori haka

there American Wrestlers American Wrestlers here Japanese Sumo Wrestlers Japanese Sumo Wrestlers

Race & Gender Lines Variations in attitudes toward body size exist within U.S. subculture. Research indicates that non-white adults are more accepting of larger body shapes, hold more positive body images, & are less likely to stigmatize overweight people White women are more dissatisfied with their bodies than African American women despite the fact that African American women weigh on average 10 pounds more. In one study year old overweight black girls were found to have similar levels of self-esteem to average weight girls while self-esteem was significantly lower in overweight white & Hispanic girls

Race & Gender Lines Both white and African American women: Rated thin white women more attractive but only white women negatively rated the fat woman’s intelligence, job success & happiness On average, African American men showed more acceptance for large body types than White men Men have a more positive body image than women & often overestimate their attractiveness as compared to women Women are generally more discontent with their appearance than men (often due to body weight) Girls as young as 6 are going on diets because they think they are fat & by age 9, half of all girls have gone on a diet

Questions continued 4. Which images surprised you? Why? 5. How have ideas about body image in our society changed over time? What do you think caused these changes? Do you think they will shift again in the future? 6. How are ideas about body image different in other parts of the world? What do you think accounts for these differences? 7. How do you think fixed ideas about body shape & size in U.S. culture influence you? 8. List at least two physical features you like about yourself.