Media Images

Body image and self-esteem are examined through personal stories among Los Angeles college dancers who grew up in the Hollywood culture of the cult of slenderness. The study incorporates a body image survey, eating disorder screen, and an interview process capturing dancers’ lived experiences with daily pressures. Dancers reveal their experiences with body image struggles and empowerment. Quantitative and qualitative results point to a need for future social activist intervention with dancers in their formative years when body image concepts are formed. At this time of need and rebellion, the dance community could support change by increasing focus on wellness to better support girls and women so mediated pressures will not continue to squelch the self-esteem of girls and women.
Keywords: body image; eating disorders; commercial jazz dance; Los Angeles;empowerment; media influence; dance education

Background: ME/CFS is a stigmatised, often misunderstood condition. This situation is compounded by minimal research funding and contested clinical guidance. Use of inaccurate images purporting to represent ME/CFS perpetuates and reinforces biases, preconceptions, misconceptions and stigma. This impedes the influence of emerging research in informing the public, researchers and clinicians about the reality of the condition. Objectives: This poster challenges people to: reconsider their use of images, given the power of images to educate or misinform understand the damaging effect of inappropriate images that contradict or undermine the accompanying text develop an awareness of appropriate images Methods: 1. Search the literature on the comparative power of images and text. 2. Undertake content analysis of inappropriate images of ME/CFS. 3. Search the literature for information on the potential for damage from use of inappropriate images. 4. Undertake content analysis of the use of more accurate visual representations of ME/CFS. Results: Images attract attention, convey complex information rapidly, and enhance retention of associated text. In a search of Google News for articles on research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, of the 298 articles found, only 17 contained a realistic depiction of a person with ME/CFS. The remainder involved a missed opportunity or misinformation, often through use of inappropriate stock images. Realistic images can convey stories about ME/CFS that current lay and medical vocabulary struggle to adequately describe. Conclusion: Investment of time and effort to select appropriate images is warranted, given the power of images to either reinforce bias and stigma, or to accurately represent the illness and invoke an emotional investment in the important issues around ME/CFS. Funding: None Off-Label Use: None COI: None Contact: penelope.mcmillan@mecfs.org.au