Self Image

Self image is a very important problem in the social work field. The way you see and feel about yourself is vital to the success and happiness of a person. Attaining a positive body image is important because there are many aspects of life that are affected by how individuals perceive themselves. We encounter individuals that may have poor or negative self images that may lead to eating disorders and depression. It is important to research how different cultures view body image, the effect of media and stereotypes in order for us to effectively assist our clients.
The purpose of this research is to determine whether if there is a difference in how African Americans and Caucasians view body image. In an earlier literature review, Yale nursing students discovered that African Americans view obesity positively and relate it to attractiveness, sexual desirability, body image, strength or goodness, self esteem, and social acceptability. However in the same literature review, Caucasians viewed obesity as unattractive, socially undesirable, and related to poor body image and decreased self esteem. African American individuals face much bias and discrimination in their lives due to the attitudes and discriminatory actions of people today and the necessity of meeting the Caucasian standard of beauty. This paper is to uncover reasons why there is such a difference in the way African Americans and Caucasians view body image. The paper will examine what social theories apply to this problem and why they are relevant. The independent variable is the attitudes toward the obese and the dependant variables are culture, media, and stereotypes. The variables defined are; Culture the beliefs, customs, practices, and social behavior of a particular nation or people. Media the various means of mass communication considered as a whole, including television, radio, magazines, and newspapers, together with the people involved in their production. Stereotype is an oversimplified