The influence of Western body ideals on Kenyan, Kenyan American, and African Americans’ body image

Abstract

Studies have shown that there exists a relationship between exposure to idealized media images and increased self-ratings of body dissatisfaction – defined as a person’s negative feelings and ratings of their own body weight and shape (e.g. Galioto & Crowther, 2013; Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008). Using two experimental studies, we examined the impact of exposure to Western media-ideal images on Kenyan, Kenyan Americans, and African Americans’ self-perception and body satisfaction. Across the two studies, it was hypothesized that individuals who were exposed to the thin body ideal media images would report more body dissatisfaction than those exposed to overweight images. Findings support these hypotheses and suggest that exposure to Western media body ideal images is significantly related to increased body dissatisfaction. Implications regarding the need to educate people to become critical consumers of media and consequences on social justice are discussed.

Keywords:

• African American
• body dissatisfaction
• body image
• Kenyan
• Kenyan American
• social comparison theory