BODY DISSATISFACTION WITHIN WOMEN OF COLOR BASED ON MAGAZINE REPRESENTATION

While living in a diverse society, there is still a disconnect between magazines and creating representations of our current culture. Using Black feminist theory and intersectionality theory to analyze current popular magazines that women of color (WOC) read and/or can find themselves in can see the disconnect between magazines and our diverse society. Magazines play a significant role in society when influencing people on how to present themselves, so there being a lack of representation among these magazines (Vanity Fair, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Essence, Sports Illustrated, People) could possibly lead to body dissatisfaction and perhaps eating disorders.

This thesis explores qualitatively and quantitatively how these magazines lack proper representation of Black and Latinx women in body sizes, hair, Eurocentric features, and skin tone. Using a thematic textual analysis on the magazines found a lack of inclusion among Latinx women and still harmful Eurocentric beauty standards among Black women when it comes to straightening hair, being thinner, and being used as a prop in photoshoots.