Publication Date

Fall 2010

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Journalism and Mass Communications

Advisor

Diana Stover

Keywords

Beauty, Facial Differences, Facial Disfigurements, Influence, Media, Women

Subject Areas

Mass Communications; Social Research; Women's Studies

Abstract

WOMEN WITH FACIAL DISFIGUREMENTS: IMPACT OF MEDIA-CONSTRUCTED IMAGES OF BEAUTY

by Sophia M. Papadopoulos

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether women with congenital or acquired facial disfigurements were negatively influenced by the images of beauty found in television, magazines, newspapers, and advertisements and to determine how these images affected their overall perceptions of self. A qualitative study was conducted through in-depth telephone interviews with 25 women with various facial disfigurements. The study showed that, although media-constructed images of beauty did have some influence on the participants' overall perceptions of self, other factors such as the manner in which the participants were treated, their own personal insecurities about their appearance, and their life-experiences growing up and living with facial disfigurements were found to have had a greater influence on their self-esteem, self-worth, and overall perceptions of self.

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