The Weight of Things: Understanding African American Women’s Perceptions of Health, Body Image and Attractiveness

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Ethnicity and Race in Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Obesity has become a worldwide concern, particularly for its relationships to public health and body image issues. A large part of this public health discourse deals with different perceptual discourses surrounding the word ‘obesity’. African Americans in particular have been targeted by health interventions since they are found to weigh more than Caucasians. But African American women have resisted this label instead arguing that dominant measures of health are white norms and oppressive to other ethnicities. Through the use of in-depth interviews, the purpose of this study is to understand how African American women define measures of health and body image. In addition, the study investigated the challenges that African American women face when trying to access or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Preliminary findings suggest that African American women are ambivalent in their acceptance of dominant markers of health but they critiqued the health status of the thin ideal. Further, African American women articulated a suspicion of formal medical structures. Finally, they identified socioeconomic status, schooling and motherhood as important barriers to health, while they think conversations on mental health, sexuality and body image need more focus.

Authors

• Nicole Cameron, Washington State U

• Adrienne Fayola Muldrow, Washington State U

• Whitney Stefani, Washington State U