ERIC Number: ED186119
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1980-Apr
Pages: 17
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Body Build Stereotypes: A New Methodology.
Stager, Susan Ferencz; Burke, Peter
Using the interactionist framework and semantic differential and discriminant analysis techniques, the study sought to determine (a) the existence of body build stereotypes, (b) the extent of identification with these stereotypes, and (c) the effect of such identification upon the child's self evaluation. The subjects were 388 children in grades four to eight from a midwestern community. All subjects were white and had predominantly middle class backgrounds. Subjects completed the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale and semantic differential ratings of the Global self concept and the body build concepts of "SKINNY GIRL", "FAT GIRL", "SKINNY BOY", and "FAT BOY". Measures of weight and height were obtained using a standard weighing scale and wall chart. Fat child and skinny child stereotypes were found to be invariant across age and sex groups and did not appear to be gender specific. Actual fatness was found to be generally related to identification with a body build stereotype, but not strongly so. Low self esteem was a concomitant of identification with the fat child stereotype. (Author)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Public Health Service (DHEW), Rockville, MD.
Authoring Institution: Indiana Univ., Bloomington. Dept. of Sociology.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Biennial Southeastern Conference on Human Development (6th, Alexandria, VA, April 17-19, 1980).