Welcome to Francis Academic Press

Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 2024, 7(6); doi: 10.25236/AJHSS.2024.070634.

Exploration of the Reasons for Contemporary Young Women's Body Anxiety under the Background of New Consumerism

Author(s)

Ba Yi, Junyue Huang

Corresponding Author:
Ba Yi
Affiliation(s)

Sanya University, Sanya, Hainan, 572000, China

Abstract

Throughout history, the aesthetic expression of the female body has continuously evolved with the advancement of media technologies. The pursuit of bodily beauty by women is actually a history of the female body being shaped by discourse. In this process, the media, as a significant force, plays a crucial role in constructing the discourse on female bodily beauty. The singular aesthetic realm constructed by mass media and the commodification of the female body under the backdrop of consumer culture have triggered body anxiety among contemporary young women. This paper starts from the perspective of how new consumerism triggers body anxiety among contemporary young women and summarizes the phenomenon of body anxiety characterized by longing for a perfect body, dissatisfaction with one's own body, pathological control over body shape, and self-objectification among women. Further analysis identifies the deep-rooted causes of body anxiety among contemporary young women, including the desire to attract the opposite sex and enhance allure, seeking identity in intimate relationships and social acceptance, discipline and scrutiny from the social environment, assistance from media dissemination and marketing, and the guidance of aesthetic culture and fashionism.

Keywords

New Consumerism, Body Anxiety, Ideal Body Image, Social Discipline

Cite This Paper

Ba Yi, Junyue Huang. Exploration of the Reasons for Contemporary Young Women's Body Anxiety under the Background of New Consumerism. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2024) Vol. 7, Issue 6: 219-225. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2024.070634.

References

[1] Tian Tian. Study on the Construction of "Ideal Beauty" for Female College Students through Social Media. [J] China Youth Study, 2023, (06):94-102.

[2] Fang Fang, Gao Weifei, Chen Shoupeng, Jiang Yaoqi. Study on the Correlation between Body Image and Social Anxiety among College Students. [J] Psychology Monthly, 2023, (06):68-71.

[3] Liu Yan. Aesthetics and Self-Presentation: Deep Logic of Young Women's Appearance Anxiety. [J] China Youth Study, 2022, (05):85-92.

[4] Li Sheng, Li Min. Social Mechanisms of Contemporary Young Women's Appearance Anxiety. [J] China Youth Study, 2022, (04):78-85.

[5] Hao Yu, Li Xiran. Capital Logic and New Media Conspiracy: Theoretical Analysis and Response to Female "Body Anxiety". [J] New Media and Society, 2021, (01):319-336.

[6] Liu Yi. Discipline and Struggle: Female Body Anxiety and Self-Management in the Context of Social Media. [J] Audio-Visual, 2021, (11):153-154.

[7] Ma Surina. Study on the Influence of Media Ideal Body Image Internalization and Social Physique Anxiety on Female College Students' Participation in Sports. [D] Advisor: Dong Jinling. Shenyang Normal University, 2023.

[8] Zou Jingyi, Wang Yang, Wang Jingru, Hu Xiaodie, Zhou Ya, Li Qiang, Song Jingyuan. Analysis of Factors Affecting College Students' Appearance Anxiety from an Individual Perspective. [J] Heilongjiang Science, 2023, (05):67-71.

[9] Chen Qi. Study on the Mechanism of Young Women's Appearance Anxiety Induced by Social Media. [J] Media Forum, 2023, (05):24-27.

[10] Xia Aichen. Ideal Thinness in Social Media and Young Women's Restrictive Eating Decisions—Based on Social Comparison Theory. [J] Southeast Communication, 2023, (01):126-128.

[11] Du Jingman. Performance, Cognition, Discipline: The Bodily Dimension in Appearance Anxiety. [J] Southeast Communication, 2022, (10):124-125.

[12] Wang Kunyan, Yan Jun, Zhang Lei, Xu Lei. Social, Discipline, and Performance: A Grounded Analysis of "Showcasing Exercise" Scenes in Online Contexts. [J] Sports and Science, 2022, (06):96-106.

[13] Qiu Tian, Wang Xiao. Youth Appearance Anxiety and Media Governance Strategies Under the Perspective of Cultural Confidence. [J] Media Forum, 2022, (20):88-90.

[14] Zhou Yuxin. Self-imagination and Discipline of Young Female Groups in Media Practices—Based on an Investigation of Selfie Editing Behaviors on Social Media. [J] Audio-Visual, 2022, (10):145-149.

[15] Li Ke. Ritual View and Body Discipline: Exploring the "Cloud Fitness" Communication Logic from the "Liu Genghong Phenomenon". [J] New Media Research, 2022, (17):74-77.

[16] Zhu Hehui. Perspective on Female "Appearance Anxiety" on New Media Platforms Based on Enculturation Theory. [J] New Media Research, 2022, (16):97-100.

[17] Shao Yebo. Construction and Negotiation of Young Women's Body Image in the Context of Social Media. [D] Advisor: Chen Chujie. Nanjing Normal University, 2021.