Featured publication: Bones, body parts, and sex appeal

Doctoral candidate Jannath Ghaznavi and Dr. Laramie Taylor’s recent publication, “Bones, body parts, and sex appeal: An analysis of #thinspiration images on popular social media” published in Body Image, was featured in:

• ScienceDaily.com, “'Thinspiration' images of women on social media sites examined”- May 8, 2015
• MedicalDaily.com, “Body Image And Social Media: Scientists Analyze Harmful 'Thinspiration' Photos Of Women” - May 11, 2015
• Futurity.org, “Do ‘thinspiration’ images pose a risk to women?” – May 12, 2015
• Interviewed by NewsRadio KFBK.com, Sacramento’s News, Weather, and Traffic Station - May 12, 2015

Highlights

• We examined thinspiration images, intended to inspire weight loss, on social media.
• Images tended to be sexually suggestive, with thin, bony, scantily-clad women.
• Twitter images were characterized by more segmented, bony content.
• Sexually suggestive images tended to have greater social endorsement.
• Results support the self-objectification phenomenon and social cognitive theory.