Do real women have curves? Paradoxical body images among latinas in new york city
Abstract
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.
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Latina women and adolescent girls living in the United States describe awareness of, and frustration with, primarily White appearance ideals proliferated in media.
“Latina women and adolescent girls living in the United States describe awareness of, and frustration with, primarily White appearance ideals proliferated in media (Schooler & Daniels, 2014;Viladrich et al., 2009).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Viladrich et al., 2009
Cites
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“Our findings also accord with a large body of literature that points out the power of western values, and particularly the media, in setting unrealistic slender standards leading to body dissatisfaction [8, 45].”
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Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., Hunt, R. A., Ladd, B. A., & Choukas-Bradley, S. (2022) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.03.002 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Cultural, media, and peer influences on body beauty perceptions of Mexican American adolescent girls
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Schooler, D., & Daniels, E. A. (2014) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.09.001 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
- Authors
- Viladrich, A., Yeh, M.-C., Bruning, N., & Weiss, R.
- Affiliations
- City University of New York (US)
- Corresponding author
- Viladrich, Anahí
- ORCID
- Viladrich, Anahí
- Venue
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Published
- 2008-09-21
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 20-28
- ISSN
- 1557-1912 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1920
- OpenAlex
- W2008208495
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 2.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- City University of New York
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- Hispanic women, body image, body ideals, thin ideal, media influence, cultural values, obesity, weight management, New York City
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Health, Body Image, Cultural Characteristics, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Middle Aged, New York City, Self Concept, Body Mass Index, Young Adult
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