Lookin’ Great, Easy to Hate: Women’s Reactions to Fat Talk as a Function of Target’s Weight

Title

Lookin’ Great, Easy to Hate: Women’s Reactions to Fat Talk as a Function of Target’s Weight

Creator

Osborne, Rachel L.

Giuliano, Traci A.

Date

2014-09-02

Date Available

2014-09-02

Date Issued

2008

uri

https://collections.southwestern.edu/s/suscholar/item/8

Abstract

In an effort to extend the current literature on “fat talk,” a 2 (Target’s Self-Presentation Style: Fat
Talk or Self-Acceptance) x 2 (Target’s Relative Weight Status: Thinner Than Participant or
Heavier Than Participant) between-groups experiment was conducted. A sample of 142 women
read one of four online scenarios describing a hypothetical shopping trip, and then gave feedback
about their responses, reactions, and perceptions concerning a target woman who tried on a
dress. Consistent with predictions, a thin woman was viewed most positively when she engaged
in self-acceptance, whereas a heavier woman was viewed most positively when she engaged in
fat talk. Our findings suggest that fat talk can inspire negative emotions and attitudes in others,
and thus an awareness of these consequences (both by individuals and the media) is important in
order to help lessen the perpetuation of female body image issues in our society

Language

English

Relation

Brown Working Papers in the Arts and Sciences;2008, no.3

Subject

Body image in women

Body image

Self-perception

Mind and body

Fat talk

Alternative Title

Sizing Up Fat Talk: Women’s Reactions to Fat Talk as a Function of Target’s Weight

Type

Working Paper