Hearing the Media: An Investigation of Mainstream Media and Deaf/deaf Women's Body Image Development
Date of Award
Spring 4-12-2013
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Deborah Schooler
Second Advisor
Deborah Maxwell McCaw
Abstract
The positive relationship between exposure to mass media and body image disturbances has been well documented. However, for the most part, these studies have focused on the contributions of media exposure on the body image of White women. Recent research suggests that for ethnic minority women, membership of a cultural minority may be a protective factor against internalization of mainstream standards of beauty and the development of body image disturbance; although this protective buffer depends on women's levels of acculturation within their ethnic cultures and their respective levels of acculturative stress. The current paper presents survey data investigating whether these patterns extend to D/deaf women. Data was collected from 96 deaf, female, undergraduate students at Gallaudet University. Results indicate that exposure to mainstream media was not a significant predictor of body image disturbance among deaf women; however, degree of Deaf acculturation, acculturative stress, and internalization of mainstream messages were all significant predictors of body image. Higher levels of internalization and acculturative stress were associated with body image disturbance, while stronger Deaf acculturation was associated with healthier body image. Although stronger Deaf acculturation was predictive of a healthier body image, results do not support the hypothesis that stronger Deaf acculturation helps deaf women resist internalizing mainstream messages. Instead, degree of Deaf acculturation and acculturative stress seem to have a direct path to body image. These results may inform practice with deaf women. Facilitating open discussion of Deaf acculturation status and feelings of marginalization may be especially important when working with deaf women.
Recommended Citation
Aldalur, Aileen, "Hearing the Media: An Investigation of Mainstream Media and Deaf/deaf Women's Body Image Development" (2013). Undergraduate University Honors Capstones. 32.
https://ida.gallaudet.edu/honors_capstones/32
