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Do the skinny, lip-glossed beauties on TV really make women feel bad about their bodies? Body image dissatisfaction in Ecuadorian women.

Author(s): Dove Rainbow

Presentation: oral

Body image dissatisfaction is unhappiness with one’s body. It detracts from healthy psychological and physical development and is implicated as a risk factor in eating disorders and other general psychopathology. It is thought to be more prevalent in women than men. Research on body image dissatisfaction has focused mainly upon Anglo-American and African-American women within the United States. This study broadened our knowledge base as it looked at three populations of Ecuadorian women: upper-class mestiza students from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (n = 40), ages 18-25, middle-class mestiza students from the Technical Institute of Ambato (n = 42), ages 18-25, and women of different socioeconomic status from Salasaca, an indigenous community (n = 38), ages 18-30. A six-part questionnaire including demographic data was used along with individual interviews and discussions with professors and community leaders. Quantitative results show the interactions among media exposure, body esteem, and life satisfaction. Results are discussed in a context of globalization, postcolonial racist discrimination, and inherently racist media messages.

 

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