Beyond Thinness: The Influence of a Curvaceous Body Ideal on Body Dissatisfaction in Black and White Women

Abstract

This study examined whether a curvaceous body ideal differentially influenced sources of body dissatisfaction in 116 Black and 222 White women at a northeastern U.S. university. We measured idealization of and dissatisfaction with three components of a curvaceous ideal: breast size, buttock size, and weight. Although most women preferred a curvaceous body shape, more White women preferred this ideal to be slender with medium breasts whereas more Black women preferred this ideal to be curvier with medium breasts and large buttocks. Women discrepant from these ideals reported more dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction with the curvaceous ideal predicted appearance concerns. Findings highlight the need to consider valued body ideals other than thinness as potential sources of dissatisfaction among women of different racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Body Size Stereotyping and Internalization of the Thin Ideal in Preschool Girls

“…Although thinness is the most highly valued appearance attribute among young girls (McCabe and Ricciardelli 2003;McCabe et al 2002), feminine beauty ideals also include having particular body proportions to portray the right amount of curvaceousness in conjunction with low body fat (Calogero et al 2007;Harrison 2003;Overstreet et al 2010). Moreover, feminist and other scholars have documented the increased sexualization of very young girls-such as the dressing of preschool girls in t-shirts that read "Porn Star," in high-heeled shoes, or in make-up (American Psychological Association Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls 2007; Levin and Kilbourne 2008;Smolak and Murnen 2010).…”

“…For girls and women living in westernized societies, the most prominent feature of ideal feminine beauty and attractiveness is thinness (Calogero et al 2007;Hesse-Biber 1996;Owen and LaurelSeller 2000; Thompson et al 1999). Researchers have further documented that the current ideal body type for women is not only thin, but a 'curvaceously thin' body shape (Harrison 2003;Overstreet et al 2010)-which is not simply a matter of attaining a low body weight but also having the necessary fat distribution in certain areas (e.g., breasts, buttocks) to achieve the desired body proportions.…”

Promoting Positive Body Image in Males and Females: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions

“…For women in prosperous White western cultures, slimness is seen as a desirable attribute and is associated with self-control, elegance, social attractiveness, and youth (Bordo 2003). The ideal female body shape portrayed in mainstream White western media is slim but full-breasted (Overstreet et al 2010); the body-type that Marchessault (2000) describes as "the physically impossible, tall, thin and busty Barbie-doll stereotype" (p. 204). Muscle tone is also important, and the 21st century ideal is a firm-looking, toned body for women as well as men (Bordo 2003), although visible muscles have not generally been considered gender appropriate for women (Choi 2000).…”

The 2017–2018 Psi Chi Presidential Initiative: Help Helped Me

“…African American women tend to desire a thicker or curvier body ideal than European American women (Overstreet, Quinn, & Agocha, 2010;Tylka, 2012), and African American women are at a lower risk for anorexia nervosa than European American women (Taylor, Caldwell, Baser, Faison, & Jackson, 2007). Also, African American women who identify with African American culture, as opposed to those who identify with European American culture, desire a curvier body ideal (Tylka, 2012).…”