Murnen, S. K., & Don, B. P. (2012).Task 1 Article 1 Body Image and Gender Roles

Question 1

Body Image

Answer 1

The image of oneself one has in his mind.

Question 2

Positive body image

Answer 2

Positive image of oneself

Question 3

Negative body image

Answer 3

Negative image of oneself. Dissatisfaction. May cause the development of eating disorders or other mental disorders.

Question 4

Gender Role:

Answer 4

Behaviors and traits that are associated with a specific gender. Distinction into femininity and masculinity.

Question 5

Who is more influenced by ideal body images?

Answer 5

Men and women that are concerned about others opinion of them and need to be accepted. Although women are more vulnerable due to their subordinate societal position.

Question 6

Body image ideals for girls and women

Answer 6

In western cultures we find an increasingly thin image of women, which can be associated with increased body dissatisfaction and the desire to be thinner.

Question 7

Media and the body ideal for women

Answer 7

Media constantly reminds woman of the importance to be thin, let alone the cultural products around us, such a “ special K cereal”, fitness shakes, scales, mirrors, skinny jeans, size zero…

Question 8

Pornography and the body ideal for women

Answer 8

Women have increasingly been depicted as sexual objects, i.e large breasts, long legs, thin hips, full lips… this has gotten even worse since pornography is so easily accesible in the internet

Question 9

Ideal body and cultures

Answer 9

It differs

Question 10

Ideal body image for man

Answer 10

The ideal body image for man is the muscular one. The drive for muscularity has been associated with some behavioral and psychological outcomes like depression, eating disorders, steroid use,…

Although less concerned wisth thinnees man can experience body dissatisfaction. The male body is when looking at this ideal, a projection of masculine aspects such as dopamine, aggression, power…

Question 11

Men body ideal and job

Answer 11

Men are not as dependent on their bodies appearance because they can compensate with a good job. They rather focus in their bodies functionality than on their appearance.

Question 12

Social role theory

Answer 12

Gender roles have their origins in biologicql differences between man and woman. So woman relate to caretaking and domestic roles while men are more responsible for the strength part. When people are assigned to different roles, they develop skills to improve their assigned roles.( women develop empathy and emotionality)

Question 13

Gender role congruity theory

Answer 13

Both genders are motivated to fulfil their ideal and if they dont theyll feel rejected from society

Question 14

Heterosexual Script

Answer 14

Men want sex and women want relationships. LMen are dominant sexual actors that cannot help but to objectify women. The womans power lies in her ideal body with which she might attract them.

Question 15

Polarization

Answer 15

We tend to emphasize gender differences as much as possible

Question 16

Patriarchal structure

Answer 16

Women are subordinated to the dominant man

Question 17

Biological explanations

Answer 17

Men prefer physical attractive women which may be a sign that they have a better reproductive health

Question 18

Body project

Answer 18

Girls start to define their self worth more by their appearance than by their character when the border between adolescence and adulthood loosens become more vulnerable to focus on appearance

Question 19

other factors that affect body image are

Answer 19

Experiences such as sexual harrasment or even abuse can increase body dissatisfaction.

Differences between ethnic groups like african americans who have a wider and more flexible ideal

Socioeconomic status since those with low SES cannot afford the cultural products that facilitate the ideal

Question 20

Masculinity and the body ideal Metrosexuals and Gay

Answer 20

Usually man wont care but if they do theyll be called gay

Metrosexuals man now came out

Gay people experience more body dissatisfaction

Question 21

Man and women comparison

Answer 21

Women report double the issue of dieting behavior but both manipulate their body appearance through exercising.

In women it has become normal to be dissatisfied with their bodies and their self esteem is closely tied to their body esteem.

Question 22

Solutions to ideals and gender roles

Answer 22

More man need to take on caretaking roles to de-emphasize the traditional muscularity.
cultural products need to be changed and commercialization needs to be addressed. We should move towards more flexible gender roles to promote equality and decrease the focus on body as a source of self definition and gate to success.