Women's Desire To Be Thin Analysis

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The bandwagon effect persuades individuals to follow what important others are doing. Mass media supports the bandwagon effect by emphasizing thinness as a beauty ideal. In “The Influence of Presumed Media Influence on Women’s Desire to Be Thin”, Park argues that “reading beauty and fashion magazines increase[s] the drive for thinness both directly and indirectly” (Park, 2005, p. 594). Park comments on previous research and declares that individuals feel pressured to conform to the thin ideal if they believe that others are influenced by it. “This investigation examines… [to examine] the influence of media on women through their perceptions of media effects on others” (Park, 2005, p. 595). Park studied the relationship between magazine use and the desire to be thin, as well as the indirect effects of the perceived prevalence of the …show more content…

Variables were measured using 7-point Liker-type scales. Participants reported the number of beauty related magazines they read each month, as well as the perceived prevalence of the thin ideal in mass media, perceived influence of the thin ideal on women, on men, and on self, and their desire to be thin (Park, 2005, p. 602-603). The results of this study indicate that consuming beauty and fashion magazines both directly and indirectly increase the desire to be thin. Individuals perceive the thin ideal in mass media, assume that others are influenced by this ideal, feel pressure to conform to this norm, and, therefore, feel an enhanced desire to be thin (Park, 2005, p. 606-607). Park wrote this article in response to the worrisome increase in body dissatisfaction. Previous research has not included the effects of the social context of media use, specifically the perception of how media affects others. This study encourages intervention that acknowledges the social pressure to be thin, and discourages comparison and competition among individuals (Park, 2005, p.

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