Rebecca Bates M.S.W, R.S.W MEDIA, MEDIA, TELL ME, WHO IS THE FAIREST IN THE LAND?: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF BODY IMAGE (MIS) REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA

 Reason for Research  Literature Review  Methodology  Data Sampling and Collection  Findings  New Forms of Weight Discrimination  Healthy Body Neoliberalism  Technology of the Body  Conclusion  Acknowledgements  Questions OVERVIEW

 Research Questions:  how body image ideals are depicted and conceptualized in Canadian mass media?  how body image portrayals in the media can impact Canadians health?  Interest in this research  Purpose of Research REASON FOR RESEARCH

 Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)  Uncovers the link between macro and micro-levels of discourse  Reveals the shaping and restructuring of discourse  Foucault’s Archaeology of Knowledge  Critiqued and evaluated the concepts and development of body image discourse  Problematized the meaning of body image discourse in the media  Analyzed the rules of formation among discourses  Explored the current rules of body image talk METHODOLOGY

 Articles in the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail between January 2011 and March 2013  Search terms: “obesity,” “body image,” “overweight,” “underweight,” and “thinness ideal”  Headline Analysis DATA SAMPLING AND COLLECTION

DATA COLLECTION Data Search and Summary Electronical Newspaper Search

DATA COLLECTION CONT’D  Medical Experts

 New Forms of Weight Discrimination  Body Size Stigmatization  Body Size Choice or Governmental Problem?  Gender Discourse FINDINGS: NEW FORMS OF WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION

 Technology of the Body  Healthy Body Surveillance Tools  Body Image Experts  Body Image Binaries FINDINGS: TECHNOLOGY OF THE BODY

 Discussion  Relevance to Social Work Practice  Implication of the Findings  Future Research CONCLUSION

 I would like to thank my family and friends for their support throughout this research journey. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

QUESTIONS