Summa Cum Laude Study on Social Media and Body Image

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Young Women’s Experiences of “Sexy Bodies” on Instagram: A Case Study by summa cum laude master’s graduate in Gender Studies Phumelele Basi investigated how female preservice teachers interpreted and experienced body images on Instagram and the impact on their own self-perceptions.

Basi’s research journey was motivated by personal experiences. ‘During my undergraduate studies, I found myself constantly comparing myself to these so-called “sexy” female bodies, which affected my self-esteem and body image. This struggle became even more real during my teaching practice when a student approached me for advice on dealing with similar body image issues exacerbated by social media,’ she said.

Supervised by Professor Deevia Bhana, the dissertation critically examines the entanglement of social media, gender, sexuality, and power in shaping perceptions of beauty and self-worth. Instagram was found to reflect an assemblage of body types, celebrities, influencers, fashion trends, gestures and poses, which collectively shaped the young pre-service teachers’ perceptions of what constituted a “sexy body”.

Basi said that these interpretations were found to have both negative and positive implications. Some participants reported feeling pressure, insecurity and a sense of comparison when viewing these images, interpreting them as representations of unrealistic beauty standards that created a need to conform. However, others found empowerment, self-acceptance and body positivity in these images, appreciating the diversity of body representations.

The study also highlighted the impact of these interpretations on the participants’ self-perceptions of body image and their behaviour on the platform. Participants who felt pressure to conform to the idealised images reported engaging in behaviours such as excessive exercise, restrictive dieting and editing their photos to fit the perceived beauty standards. Those who found empowerment and body positivity in the images were more likely to engage in self-expression, promoting body acceptance and challenging societal beauty norms.

Basi’s study sheds light on the complex ways in which young women navigate and interpret idealised female bodies on social media platforms like Instagram. It underscores the need for teacher education programmes to address these issues to empower pre-service teachers to critically engage with gender norms and representations in the digital age.

She contends that equipping future educators with the necessary tools to navigate the digital landscape will enable them to empower their learners to critically engage with social media and challenge the unrealistic beauty standards it perpetuates.

Basi thanked her supervisor, partner and family for their constant support and encouragement.

Words: Rakshika Sibran

Photograph:  Sethu Dalmini