A Comparison of the Anthropometric Measurements of Idealized Female Body Images in Media Directed to Men, Women, and Mixed Gender Audiences

A Content Analysis of Female Body Imagery in Video Games

“…In print media, several studies have found that the models depicted in U.S. magazines have grown thinner over time (Byrd-Bredbenner 2003) and have been significantly thinner than the average American female (Sypeck et al 2006). For example, Spitzer and colleagues (1999) translated the heights and weights of Playboy centerfold subjects from 1977 to 1996 to body mass index scores (BMI).…”

“…In particular, researchers point to the mass media for perpetuating an unrealistic ideal of thinness as attractive (Byrd-Bredbenner 2003;Sypeck et al 2006;Wilcox and Laird 2000). The research in this arena demonstrates that exposure to the thin ideal results in women evaluating their bodies more negatively, which in turn, leads to an increase in disordered eating symptomology (Grabe et al 2008;.…”

Deconstructing the Mirror's Refection: Narrative Therapy Groups for Women Dissatisfied With Their Body

“…A woman's body image is constructed through the comparisons she makes between her body image and the body image of others or between her body image and the idealized body image embedded in sociocultural norms (Byrd-Bredbenner & Murray, 2003;Notman, 2003). Body image develops from one's personal evaluations of self that are correlated to the "investment in appearance as a domain for self-evaluation" (Cash, Ancis, & Strachan, 1997, p. 433).…”

“…A brief look at American history illustrates the attention to the standards of beauty, both past and current. In the 19th century and early into the 1900s, women were concerned about being too thin (Byrd-Bredbenner & Murray, 2003). Voluptuous women were found performing in the theaters and posing in various newspaper clips and magazine photographs.…”

“…However, by the 1970s, the slenderness trend became the only path to achieve idealized beauty. The trend was sym-bolized by women who were taller, had narrower hips, and were leaner than the average woman (Byrd-Bredbenner & Murray, 2003). Since the 1970s, the slenderness trend has continued, with the idealized body size dropping farther and farther below the American clothing size 8 of the average woman (Padulo & Rees, 2006).…”