Ethnic Identity and Body Image Among Black and White College Females

Abstract

Colleges and universities should be aware that many women could experience body dissatisfaction and develop diverse programs that target women from different ethnic groups.

Living in a world with eyeballs: How women make meaning of body image in the college environment

“…Women internalize cultural body standards and, as a result, learn to associate the body with self-love, health, and individual achievement (McKinley & Hyde, 1996;Peterson, Grippo, & Tantleff-Dunn, 2008). These women are at risk to develop eating disorders and other negative behaviors as they are faced with pressure to perform both socially and academically (Baugh, Mullis, Mullis, Hicks, & Peterson, 2010). While existing literature has provided insight into body image among traditional-aged college women, little attention has been focused on the protective factors influencing body image.…”

“…Surveys of college-age women indicate that more than half report having a negative body image (Sanftner, Ryan, & Pierce, 2009). These women are at risk to develop eating disorders and other negative behaviors as they are faced with pressure to perform both socially and academically (Baugh, Mullis, Mullis, Hicks, & Peterson, 2010). At times, women feel a loss of control when they are faced with exceptional pressure to perform.…”

“…This can lead to an attempt to gain control through restrictive behaviors with their bodies (Priya et al, 2010). This response to pressure, along with the view of their bodies as a commodity, leads women to be more likely to perceive themselves as being more overweight than they actually are (Baugh et al, 2010). In fact, Brylinsky (1990) posited that, -50 percent to 70 percent of college female students misperceive their weight-related appearance, consistently overestimating their body size eighteen percent more often than men‖ (p. 2).…”

“…While white women are most at risk, one should not assume that all women of color are safe from the negative effects of body image distortion. Women of color who are socialized and pressured to adhere to the Western ideal of beauty and dress are also negatively influenced (Baugh, et al, 2010;Hesse-Biber, Livingstone, Ramirez, Barko, & Johnson, 2010). The implications of cultural influence extend well beyond race and ethnicity.…”

“…White, middle to upper-class, college-educated women are most at risk for dissatisfied body image (Baugh, et al, 2010;Brylinsky, 1990;Hesse-Biber, et al, 2010); therefore, study participants were limited to students enrolled in the university who selfidentified as White and middle to upper-class. To guard against the potential for issues surrounding transition, only students who had completed at least one year at the university were included in the participant pool.…”