جامعه شناسی کاربردی (Mar 2021)
A Qualitative Study of Adolescent Body Identity (High School Girls in Boroujerd)
Abstract
Adolescence is the starting point for identification. In addition to the rapid changes in this period and the acquisition of identity, adolescence is one of the most important periods of life in which a person could have more problems with the mental image of his body. During this period, attempts to gain identity and identity formation may be affected by hormonal, biological, and physical changes. Physical changes may occur if placed in a ‘body-centered’ text and social context during adolescence increasing the gap between what exists and what will be, and could create a sense of self-loathing, dissatisfaction, and a negative image of one’s body in adolescence. Materials and Methods The present study was a qualitative study of the body identity of adolescent girls under the influence of their body image, experiences, and physical events in Boroujerd County, Lorestan Province, Iran. Data from this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and the grounded theory method was used to analyze the data. Using theoretical and purposeful sampling methods, 30 high school girls were interviewed and finally, the collected data were coded and analyzed in the form of nine axial categories and one core category. Discussion of Results and Conclusions Constructing the body identity of adolescent girls through the formation of their mental image of their bodies as a core category has been subject to certain conditions. These conditions are classified into three categories: causal, contextual, and interventionist. Causal conditions include gender stereotypes and comparing one's body with others. At the same time, maturity acts as a background condition, the Internet as the medium and the ideal body (slimming) acts as an interfering condition. Also, an adolescent girl’s body contrasts between the real body and the ideal body. She makes certain interactions and adopts certain strategies. These interactions and strategies can be categorized in the form of body monitoring and handling of irregular eating patterns (such as strict diets, vegetarianism, the use of diet pills and powders, etc.). Adolescent girls, under their specific physical conditions during puberty, gender stereotypes, and the presentation of physical ideal standards through the Internet and beauty norms, feel a great gap between what they see in their bodies now and what they imagine. They need to engage in strategies such as strict diets, regular check-ups, and regular check-ups under the conditions, factors, and backgrounds that adolescent girls are sensitive to during their adulthood. They experience rapid changes and feelings. Feelings can be categorized into several categories including feelings of physical anxiety, embarrassment, and gender alienation. Thus, during adolescence, efforts to gain identity and identity formation may be influenced by hormonal, biological, and physical changes. And these physical changes, if located in a social body-centered context and the adolescent's confrontation with gender stereotypes, can create a beautiful, attractive woman for her feminine body to be selected and prepared for the role of a mother and a wife. Also, the adolescent is confused by the paradoxical conditions of childhood and adulthood, and the expectations of the society. In order to get rid of this situation, she seeks the ideal and acceptable body of the society with the help of virtual network channels (the Internet). By going back and immersing herself in these channels, she learns that she has to lose weight, do anything to become more attractive, etc. During adolescence, dissatisfaction with the physical appearance increases because physical changes such as the weight gain during puberty contrasts with social prescriptions and idealism in relation to physical attractiveness. But adolescent girls, in spite of their relentless efforts to become more beautiful, find themselves in a great gap and become dissatisfied with their bodies and feel ashamed and worried.
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