It is generally assumed that being bombarded with images of skinny, flawless supermodels and celebrities makes most women feel bad about themselves (or worse).
But a new study argues that it's more complicated than that. Sometimes seeing those idealized images of beauty makes us feel crummy... and sometimes it makes us feel great. It all depends on the scale.
"Defensive Reactions to Slim Female Images in Advertising: The Moderating Role of Mode of Exposure," a new report from professors at University of Manitoba and University of Michigan, theorizes that the effect of idealized female images on regular women differs based on how blatantly or subtly the images are presented.
After testing 37 women in three controlled experiments, the authors found the following:
When the idealized female images are presented blatantly -- unobscured, focusing clearly on their beauty -- we detect the ideal being thrown in our faces. We therefore fortify our own self-image as a defense mechanism, as if to say, "We see what you're trying to do here... and we're not falling for it." As a result, our self-esteem actually rises.
But when the idealized female images are exposed subtly -- presented in the context of another product or as an after-thought -- it gets under our skin without us realizing. We end up feeling bad about ourselves.
The idea that seeing beautiful women can actually make us feel good about ourselves isn't totally new. A study entitled "The Skinny on Celebrities" previously proved that women actually felt better about their own bodies when viewing slim celebs that they liked (versus celebrities they felt no connection to at all).
But the focus in the new study is is not who the models are, but rather how "in your face" they're portrayed. This complicates the conversation on body image and self-esteem, which typically assumes the prettier the model or the skinnier the celeb, the worse she makes viewers feel.
That formula does still hold true in many contexts. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, about 70 percent of girls grades five through 12 said magazine images influence their ideals of a perfect body, a fact that's plain to see in the online world of teenage "thinspiration".
But ads, as opposed to magazine spreads and covers, appear to be a more intricate matter. To read more about the study, click to ScienceDirect.com or head to The Daily Mail.
Women to admire:
