The Relationship between Body Image and Culture

The Relationship between Body Image and Culture

Miniaci Performing Arts Center

The purpose of this research is to determine how individuals rate body image based on shape of the body and ethnicity of the person being evaluated. Further, this research explores whether culture of the participant is a variable that impacts individuals’ sense of body image. By discovering whether culture plays a role in how individuals view body image, people and organizations may be better able to work with individuals who have body image issues. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire is composed of 5 questions which are used when looking at 15 pictures. The pictures are of fifteen different female celebrities. These celebrities were chosen so that Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian women would represent the following body shape categories: very thin, thin, normal, slightly overweight, and overweight. The same five questions were given per category. In total, the survey consists of 75 questions. Participants answer by filling out a likert-type survey. Preliminary results will be given.