"Do Real Women Have Curves?" Paradoxical body images among Latinas in New York City.
This paper examines Latinas' assessments of their individual body shape and weight vis-à-vis their beliefs and attitudes regarding mainstream and alternative body images. A mixed method data collection system was used based on individual instruments and focus group guidelines. While individual measures revealed participants' preference for thinner body types than what they actually considered themselves to be, group data underscore contradictory body paradigms, defined as Latinas' Paradoxical Body Images (LAPABI). Findings suggest the prevalence of a mainstream stereotype represented by the fit/thin White woman as the ultimate body ideal, along with the Latina curvy shape as its counter-image. The paper further discusses the importance of the media, and of divergent cultural values, in supporting these co-existing body ideals, as well as the need for more studies addressing their combined effect on Latinas' obesity patterns and their weight-control efforts.
Viladrich
Anahí
A
Immigration and Health Initiative, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College of the City University of New York, Brookdale Campus, 425 E 25th Street, W 1021, New York, NY 10010, USA. aviladri@hunter.cuny.edu
Yeh
Ming-Chin
MC
Bruning
Nancy
N
Weiss
Rachael
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult