Table of Contents

Introduction. Culture and Body Image. The Idealization of Slenderness. The Basis of Body Shape Ideals. Summary. Women and Body Satisfaction. Assessment of Body Satisfaction. Social Construction of Femininity. Summary. Men and Body Satisfaction. Assessment of Body Satisfaction. Social Construction of Masculinity. Summary. Media Effects. Media Portrayal of the Body. Mass Communication Models. Recent Developments. Reducing the Effects of Media Imagery. Summary. Age, Social Class, Ethnicity and Sexuality. Body Image across the Lifespan. Ethnicity and Body Satisfaction. Social Class and Body Satisfaction. Body Shape, Sexual Attractiveness and Sexuality. Summary. Conclusions and Implications. Groups with Low Body Satisfaction. Development of a Positive Body Image. General Conclusions. Summary.

About the Author

Sarah Grogan has been involved in research into body image since 1990. She is particularly interested in promoting positive body image in men, women and children, with a particular focus on the impact of body image and related behaviors on physical health.

Reviews

..."readers will find its [the book's] timely cross-cultural research and comparisons interesting and somewhat surprising."
-R. E. Osborne, "Social and Behavioral Sciences
"Throughout the book, [Grogan] advocates a positive, realistic, healthy view of the body through increased self-esteem. Similarly, she criticizes self-imposed efforts to comply with popular and trendy body proportions. Highly recommended for large public libraries and academic libraries."
-"Library Journal, 1/99