From the cleavers to the clintons: Role choices and body orientation as reflected in magazine article content

Abstract

The media have been heavily implicated as sources of overconcern with body focus, attractiveness, and thinness, primarily for women. Attendant negative consequences are widely assumed. Yet there appears to be a recent media trend to concern with physical health and fitness, rather than just appearance. This trend has not been empirically assessed. Further, previous research has not adequately explored the possibility that there may be an assortment of physical ideals represented in the media, which may vary according to the different audiences being targeted. The current study assessed magazine article content, examining gender differences, time trends, and magazine audience type. Four types of article content were examined: health, fitness, beauty, and weight loss, in an attempt to capture the major aspects of body focus. The numbers of articles containing such content were tallied, over a 12‐year period, in a sample of magazines oriented to three distinct audiences: traditional, high fashion, and modern. Huge gender differences were obtained, with female‐targeted magazines not surprisingly outstripping male‐targeted ones for all content categories assessed. There were also clear differences in content between magazine types. Time‐trend analyses indicated a decrease in emphasis on weight loss in women's magazines over the period studied, and a statistical trend for an increase in weight loss focus in men's magazines. We conclude that apparent trends toward healthier habits are not just thinness goals revisited. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

“…These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

“…Our analysis of Playgirl centerfold models augments the growing evidence that the cultural norm for the ideal male body has become increasingly muscular over the years, especially during the 1990s. These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

“…These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

“…Our analysis of Playgirl centerfold models augments the growing evidence that the cultural norm for the ideal male body has become increasingly muscular over the years, especially during the 1990s. These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

Messages about physical attractiveness in animated cartoons

“…In another published work (Klein & Shiffman, 2005), we addressed cartoons' messages about body weight, and showed that being overweight was a bad thing whereas being underweight was a good thing. Our findings for physical attractiveness complement that research as well as the work of other scholars (Malkin, Wornian, & Chrisler, 1999;Nemeroff et al, 1994;Petrie et al, 1996;Rumble & Cash, 2000;Spitzer, Henderson, & Zivian, 1999). We would like to point out, however, that while the relationship between body weight and physical attractiveness was a strong one, it was not a perfect one.…”

Examining the Reliability and Convergent Validity of IPARTheory Measures and Their Relation to Ethnic Attitudes in Guatemala

“…Furthermore, all men, no matter the article they read, felt the most attractive man's body was slimmer than average. This pattern may support recent suggestions that the media are more greatly emphasizing being slim, in addition to toned, for men (Nemeroff et al, 1994;Pritchard & Cramblitt, 2014). The finding may also be a function of the types of silhouettes we used because the Gardner et al (2009) silhouette scales display a spectrum of underweight to overweight, whereas we were interested in body shape on a spectrum of slim to muscular.…”

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

“…These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

“…Our analysis of Playgirl centerfold models augments the growing evidence that the cultural norm for the ideal male body has become increasingly muscular over the years, especially during the 1990s. These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

Messages about physical attractiveness in animated cartoons

“…In another published work (Klein & Shiffman, 2005), we addressed cartoons' messages about body weight, and showed that being overweight was a bad thing whereas being underweight was a good thing. Our findings for physical attractiveness complement that research as well as the work of other scholars (Malkin, Wornian, & Chrisler, 1999;Nemeroff et al, 1994;Petrie et al, 1996;Rumble & Cash, 2000;Spitzer, Henderson, & Zivian, 1999). We would like to point out, however, that while the relationship between body weight and physical attractiveness was a strong one, it was not a perfect one.…”

Examining the Reliability and Convergent Validity of IPARTheory Measures and Their Relation to Ethnic Attitudes in Guatemala

“…Furthermore, all men, no matter the article they read, felt the most attractive man's body was slimmer than average. This pattern may support recent suggestions that the media are more greatly emphasizing being slim, in addition to toned, for men (Nemeroff et al, 1994;Pritchard & Cramblitt, 2014). The finding may also be a function of the types of silhouettes we used because the Gardner et al (2009) silhouette scales display a spectrum of underweight to overweight, whereas we were interested in body shape on a spectrum of slim to muscular.…”

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

“…These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

“…Our analysis of Playgirl centerfold models augments the growing evidence that the cultural norm for the ideal male body has become increasingly muscular over the years, especially during the 1990s. These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

Messages about physical attractiveness in animated cartoons

“…In another published work (Klein & Shiffman, 2005), we addressed cartoons' messages about body weight, and showed that being overweight was a bad thing whereas being underweight was a good thing. Our findings for physical attractiveness complement that research as well as the work of other scholars (Malkin, Wornian, & Chrisler, 1999;Nemeroff et al, 1994;Petrie et al, 1996;Rumble & Cash, 2000;Spitzer, Henderson, & Zivian, 1999). We would like to point out, however, that while the relationship between body weight and physical attractiveness was a strong one, it was not a perfect one.…”

Examining the Reliability and Convergent Validity of IPARTheory Measures and Their Relation to Ethnic Attitudes in Guatemala

“…Furthermore, all men, no matter the article they read, felt the most attractive man's body was slimmer than average. This pattern may support recent suggestions that the media are more greatly emphasizing being slim, in addition to toned, for men (Nemeroff et al, 1994;Pritchard & Cramblitt, 2014). The finding may also be a function of the types of silhouettes we used because the Gardner et al (2009) silhouette scales display a spectrum of underweight to overweight, whereas we were interested in body shape on a spectrum of slim to muscular.…”