Findings

Through my research, I have found an answer to my proposed research question: Is there a direct correlation between female adolescent body image and social media such as tublr or pinterest. Social media may not be the only factor effecting adolescent body image, but it definitely does affect female adolescent body image.

                Adolescents are commonly unhappy with their body image. According to Bernier, the term “normative discontent” is the experienced body dissatisfaction and desire to be thin that is so prevalent in young girls. Bernier conducted a study to measure adolescent’s body image. She determined that, “girls desired a greater change in body shape that did boys” (Bernier e37).  Why is it that girls experience a greater dissatisfaction with their bodies? The representation of women through media is the answer.

                It is common knowledge that magazines, models, and celebrities affect female adolescent body image, but what about the new social media forms such as pinterest and tumblr? Yes, social media also affects female adolescent body image. According to Clarke, “The blogging platform Tumblr has become of recent concern, with particular Tumblr sites glamorizing eating disorders” (2011). There are many posts on Tumblr where girls confess to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. “The Tumblr phenomenon plays a significant role in many young girls’ online experience. Being exposed to such images can make a young girl feel worthless and not value their own natural features” (Clarke, 2011).

                When young girls are experiencing these negative attitudes toward their experience, it is communication is a must. It is not helpful to discount their remarks, because that will make the young girl closed off and not want to discuss it. According to Anthony, “Encourage her to discuss why she feels the way she does. When unrealistic social norms are brought to light, children are able to put them in better perspective.

                When researching, I found a truly inspiring story about a fourteen year old girl name Julia Bluhm. Julia recognized the unrealistic expectation of  a female that is portrayed in Seventeen magazine. She witnessed the poor body image of many due to this magazine. She had 46,000 people sign a petition asking Seventeen magazine to stop retouching and photograph real people people in the magazine, not perfect, retouched models. (Dwyer 2012). She and her mother traveled to New York City and presented the petition to the editor-in-chief. Julia’s drive and determination to stop the unrealistic representation of what a female should look like is truly inspiring.