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'Social Media Makes It Inevitable to Feel Bad about Your Body': Examining Self-Presentation and Body Image of Young Collegiate Females

Authors :
Georgia Young
Matt Smith
John Batten
Source :
Youth, Vol 2, Iss 3, Pp 217-235 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

The current study explored how young females who compete in aesthetic sports adopt self-presentation strategies on social media. Data from semi-structured interviews with 10 collegiate female trampolinists (aged 19–24 years) were analyzed through reflective thematic analysis, and six themes were generated; self-analysis, the best you, emotional consequences, judgment, social media perceptions, and acceptance. Framed around these themes, creative nonfiction techniques were employed to present the results as an ethnodrama. Findings illustrated how participants demonstrated a high need to present their “best self”, as failure to do so results in fear of judgment, extreme self-criticism, and, subsequently, post-prevention. Moreover, participants used upward social comparisons, and when they felt they did not match the ‘thin ideal’, often made negative associations between weight gain and attractiveness. This study contributes to body image literature by demonstrating a more detailed understanding of how social media influences one’s need to alter their self-presentation to fit in with highly pressured societal ideals. In addition, the ethnodrama provides an educational tool to stimulate reflection about the extremity of this issue in today’s modern world.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2673995X
Volume :
2
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Youth
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.72dcfa9f2f54dc288de61dc3dc9e73a
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/youth2030016