The Influence of Instagram on Women’s Body Image

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Date

2017-11

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University Mouloud Mammeri of Tizi-Ouzou

Abstract

The present dissertation deals with the influence of Instagram on women’s body image. Through the analysis of Instagram’s portrayal of women, our work demonstrates how the idealized body image on Instagram is used to destroy and disempower women. In the discussion of these issues, the focus has been put on the way Instagram affects and influences women’s physical and mental well-being. For this purpose, the theoretical framework of this dissertation has been relied on Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth (1991) which examines how the promoted images on the social media misrepresent, objectify women and lead to the destruction of their identities. In order to show how women are depicted and objectified in media by men and how women perceive themselves and other ones. We have used Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (1975) as a supportive theory. Through our analysis, we have reached the following results; women are portrayed negatively, Instagram influences women’s mental and physical well-being. The last result we have reached is that Instagram can have positive impacts on women’s body image. The outline of this study comprises a discussion of three main sections that include: the representation of women in media, the effects of Instagram on women’s body image and Instagram: women embracing their authenticity. As a conclusion, it is found that Instagram affects negatively the psychological and physical health of women which lead them to the destruction of their identities as it may be a tool to raise women’s self-esteem.

Description

65p.:ill;30cm.(+cd)

Keywords

Social media, Instagram, Ideal Body Image, Beauty Myth, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, Negative and Positive Representation, Influence and Effects.

Citation

Media et Culture des pays Anglophone