Rebecca Bates M.S.W, R.S.W

MEDIA, MEDIA, TELL ME, WHO IS THE FAIREST IN THE

LAND?: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE

ANALYSIS OF BODY IMAGE (MIS)

REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA

Reason for ResearchLiterature ReviewMethodologyData Sampling and CollectionFindings

New Forms of Weight Discrimination Healthy Body Neoliberalism Technology of the Body

ConclusionAcknowledgementsQuestions

OVERVIEW

Research Questions: how body image ideals are depicted and conceptualized in

Canadian mass media? how body image portrayals in the media can impact

Canadians health? Interest in this researchPurpose of Research

REASON FOR RESEARCH

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) Uncovers the link between macro and micro-levels of

discourse Reveals the shaping and restructuring of discourse

Foucault’s Archaeology of Knowledge Critiqued and evaluated the concepts and development of

body image discourse Problematized the meaning of body image discourse in the

media Analyzed the rules of formation among discourses Explored the current rules of body image talk

METHODOLOGY

Articles in the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail between January 2011 and March 2013

Search terms: “obesity,” “body image,” “overweight,” “underweight,” and “thinness ideal”

Headline Analysis

DATA SAMPLING AND COLLECTION

DATA COLLECTION

Data Search and SummaryElectronical Newspaper Search

DATA COLLECTION CONT’D

Medical Experts

New Forms of Weight Discrimination Body Size Stigmatization Body Size Choice or Governmental Problem? Gender Discourse

FINDINGS: NEW FORMS OF WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION

Technology of the Body Healthy Body Surveillance Tools Body Image Experts Body Image Binaries

FINDINGS: TECHNOLOGY OF THE BODY

DiscussionRelevance to Social Work Practice Implication of the FindingsFuture Research

CONCLUSION

I would like to thank my family and friends for their support throughout this research journey.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

QUESTIONS