Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago

Sharon Campbell Phillips; Deb Proshad Halder

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago

Sharon Campbell Phillips, Deb Proshad Halder

Published in Advances in Sciences and Humanities (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 11 August 2019 Accepted: 26 August 2019 Published: 6 September 2019

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Abstract

The popularity of social media has grown considerably over the past few years and has taken a foothold in society. This study examined the connection between extensive social media use and the way people view their bodies in relation to what is seen in the images and messages portrayed on social media. Emphasis is placed on social media and whether it has a negative impact on body image and if it leads to body dissatisfaction. A mixed method approach was taken to collect data on females residing in Tobago and how they perceive body image. Survey participation was both voluntary and anonymous. Participants were females above the age of 15. Additionally, focus groups were conducted among Tobago women ranging between ages 16- 56 to further supplement the statistical data collected. The study and the data collected examined how social media influenced the way that women view themselves. The data collected and the research took into consideration how the participants were affected by their exposure to the various social media platforms and their messages. While the information gathered shows there is a correlation between social media and negative body image, there is no evidence to prove that social media has a direct impact on one’s body image.

Published in	Advances in Sciences and Humanities (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13
Page(s)	105-113
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Social Media, Body Image, Female, Perception, Imposition, Tobago

References

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Sharon Campbell Phillips, Deb Proshad Halder. (2019). Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Advances in Sciences and Humanities, 5(4), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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Sharon Campbell Phillips; Deb Proshad Halder. Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Adv. Sci. Humanit. 2019, 5(4), 105-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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AMA Style

Sharon Campbell Phillips, Deb Proshad Halder. Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Adv Sci Humanit. 2019;5(4):105-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13,
  author = {Sharon Campbell Phillips and Deb Proshad Halder},
  title = {Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago},
  journal = {Advances in Sciences and Humanities},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {105-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ash.20190504.13},
  abstract = {The popularity of social media has grown considerably over the past few years and has taken a foothold in society. This study examined the connection between extensive social media use and the way people view their bodies in relation to what is seen in the images and messages portrayed on social media. Emphasis is placed on social media and whether it has a negative impact on body image and if it leads to body dissatisfaction. A mixed method approach was taken to collect data on females residing in Tobago and how they perceive body image. Survey participation was both voluntary and anonymous. Participants were females above the age of 15. Additionally, focus groups were conducted among Tobago women ranging between ages 16- 56 to further supplement the statistical data collected. The study and the data collected examined how social media influenced the way that women view themselves. The data collected and the research took into consideration how the participants were affected by their exposure to the various social media platforms and their messages. While the information gathered shows there is a correlation between social media and negative body image, there is no evidence to prove that social media has a direct impact on one’s body image.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago
AU - Sharon Campbell Phillips
AU - Deb Proshad Halder
Y1 - 2019/09/06
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13
DO - 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13
T2 - Advances in Sciences and Humanities
JF - Advances in Sciences and Humanities
JO - Advances in Sciences and Humanities
SP - 105
EP - 113
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2472-0984
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13
AB - The popularity of social media has grown considerably over the past few years and has taken a foothold in society. This study examined the connection between extensive social media use and the way people view their bodies in relation to what is seen in the images and messages portrayed on social media. Emphasis is placed on social media and whether it has a negative impact on body image and if it leads to body dissatisfaction. A mixed method approach was taken to collect data on females residing in Tobago and how they perceive body image. Survey participation was both voluntary and anonymous. Participants were females above the age of 15. Additionally, focus groups were conducted among Tobago women ranging between ages 16- 56 to further supplement the statistical data collected. The study and the data collected examined how social media influenced the way that women view themselves. The data collected and the research took into consideration how the participants were affected by their exposure to the various social media platforms and their messages. While the information gathered shows there is a correlation between social media and negative body image, there is no evidence to prove that social media has a direct impact on one’s body image.
VL - 5
IS - 4
ER -

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Author Information

Sharon Campbell Phillips

Department of Education, University of the People, Pasadena, USA
Deb Proshad Halder

Department of English, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Jashore Government Women’s College, Jashore, Bangladesh

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APA Style

Sharon Campbell Phillips, Deb Proshad Halder. (2019). Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Advances in Sciences and Humanities, 5(4), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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ACS Style

Sharon Campbell Phillips; Deb Proshad Halder. Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Adv. Sci. Humanit. 2019, 5(4), 105-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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AMA Style

Sharon Campbell Phillips, Deb Proshad Halder. Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago. Adv Sci Humanit. 2019;5(4):105-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13,
  author = {Sharon Campbell Phillips and Deb Proshad Halder},
  title = {Social Media and Female Body Image: A Study on the Imposition of Body Characterization in Tobago},
  journal = {Advances in Sciences and Humanities},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {105-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ash.20190504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ash.20190504.13},
  abstract = {The popularity of social media has grown considerably over the past few years and has taken a foothold in society. This study examined the connection between extensive social media use and the way people view their bodies in relation to what is seen in the images and messages portrayed on social media. Emphasis is placed on social media and whether it has a negative impact on body image and if it leads to body dissatisfaction. A mixed method approach was taken to collect data on females residing in Tobago and how they perceive body image. Survey participation was both voluntary and anonymous. Participants were females above the age of 15. Additionally, focus groups were conducted among Tobago women ranging between ages 16- 56 to further supplement the statistical data collected. The study and the data collected examined how social media influenced the way that women view themselves. The data collected and the research took into consideration how the participants were affected by their exposure to the various social media platforms and their messages. While the information gathered shows there is a correlation between social media and negative body image, there is no evidence to prove that social media has a direct impact on one’s body image.},
 year = {2019}
}

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