Abstract
This study is a cross sectional survey and interview to determine the influences of body image of 83 women at The College of Wooster. The survey consists of 25 mostly Likert Scale questions and the interviews were conducted with one female from each class year. The literature shows that the major variables are parents, peers, media, and change of location from living at home to the campus environment. There is a lack of literature about the change of environment and a majority of the studies are conducted strictly on college women. Theory is broken down into 4 sections including Erikson's model of development, Gilligan's communication theory, de Beauvoir's 'Second Sex' and female competition, and Symbolic Interactionism. According to the seven hypotheses I came up with and the quantitative results from their survey responses the most influential variables were the mother or father and the media. The qualitative portion or the quotes in the discussion supports the quantitative results.
Advisor
Fitz Gibbon, Heather M.
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Fritzsche, Barbara, "Who Influences You? A Study of the College of Wooster Women and Their Body Image" (2005). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 4373.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/4373
Publication Date
2005
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2005 Barbara Fritzsche