Abstract
Body image is a comprehensive concept that entails feelings, perceptions and attitudes towards one’s body, physical appearance, or characteristics of the body. This concept has many layers that are being constructed and reconstructed. This paper will analyse the perceived impact of Instagram on a coloured female’s body image. Through this, the study has unpacked the multiple layers of body image and race and the impact that Instagram, social comparison, westernised standards of beauty and sociocultural factors play a role in understanding which factors play a role in impacting body image. Leon Festinger’s Social Comparison theory was used to adequately explore Instagram and body image through upward and downward social comparison. This study will take on a qualitative research design and will use an analytic approach by Braun and Clarke through thematic analysis. To sufficiently analyse the perceived impact, thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke was used to interpret the patterns and themes collected from the data. Data collection took place through semi-structured, in-depth interviews that were conducted with six coloured females residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. Findings include the subjective experiences of coloured females on Instagram and body image, and themes surrounding the multifaceted concept of body image, the exposure and impact of Instagram, body shape trends and standards, how far is too far in maintaining the ideal body shape, social comparison, and Instagram.
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Social media: The perceived impact of Instagram on a coloured female’s body image
Key words: body image, social comparison, Instagram, coloured females, perceived impact