Social and Psychological Aspects

Reflections and Empowerment: Body Image Letters to a Younger Self

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Abstract

The body is an important means of presenting ourselves to others (Eicher & Evenson, 2015). Equally important is our personal perception of our appearance and how it affects our self-feelings, self-worth, and effort we put into appearance management behaviors (Lennon, Johnson & Rudd, 2017). Many scholars have written about the construct of body image, with general consensus that it is our perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about the body (Grogan, 2008), which in turn lead to behaviors related to the body. Teasing these complex relationships apart with undergraduate students, and empowering them to think objectively and realistically about their own bodies, is challenging. This presentation will describe the goal, scope, and impact of a teaching activity used in a large lecture course on the social psychology of dress.

How to Cite:

Rudd, N. A., Jestratijevic, I. & Husk, S., (2017) “Reflections and Empowerment: Body Image Letters to a Younger Self”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 74(1).