Scope

Body image is defined as the mental image we form of our bodies, and is a basic component of our concept of self and our personal identity. This Research Guide will assist you in finding information about body image and body image disorders.

Overview

Encyclopedia of Adolescents and the Media
College Library Reference Collection: HQ 784 M3 E53 2007
Refer to: "Body Image" Vol. 1

Encyclopedia of Psychology
College Library Reference Collection: BF 31 E52 2000
Refer to: "Body Image," pp 436-438
"Self Esteem," pp 213-216
"Self Concept," pp 208-209

Encyclopedia of Women's Health Issues
College Library Reference Collection: RA 778 G39 2002

The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health
College Library Reference Collection: RA 778 C2164 2004
Refer to: "Body Image," pp. 86-89

Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women
College Library Reference Collection: RA 778 N67

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

body image
self image
self perception
self concept

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Education Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 400 scholarly and trade periodicals and selected monographs in education, educational psychology, college life, teacher education and evaluation. Basic instructions for Education Full Text

Ethnic NewsWatch 1960 - to date (updated monthly)
A full-text collection of more than 200 newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press. Basic instructions for Ethnic Newswatch

GenderWatch 1980 - to date (updated quarterly)
A women's and gender issues database with full-text coverage of most journals. Basic instructions for GenderWatch

General Science Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 150 popular and scholarly periodicals, as well as the Science section of the New York Times. Subjects include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environment, nutrition, genetics, medicine and health. Basic instructions for General Science Full Text

Humanities Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 400 scholarly journals on archaeology, classical studies, art, film, folklore, history, journalism, linguistics, literature, music, performing arts, philosophy and religion. Basic instructions for Humanities Full Text

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Dates Vary (updated daily)
Contains the full-text articles from U.S. and international newspapers (including the New York Times, June 1980 - to date), as well as some news and business magazines and trade journals. The truncation symbol is an exclamation point (!). Basic instructions for Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

PsycINFO 1872 - to date (updated weekly)
Indexes 1,300 scholarly journals along with books and book chapters in psychology, educational psychology, and behavioral sciences. Basic instructions for PsycINFO

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on Body Image can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"body image" and obesity
"body image" and men
"body image" and women
"body image" and sex?
"body image" and race
"body image" and media
"body image" and disorder?
"self concept" AND adolescen?
"anorexia nervosa"
bulimia

Internet Sites

AdiosBarbie.com
http://www.adiosbarbie.com
"AdiosBarbie is a one-stop body shop, where women and men of all cultures and sizes can learn about their bodies; feel proud and comfortable in their natural shapes, sizes, and colors; speak out against impossible beauty standards; and share their experiences. It serves as a place for social commentary on body issues, redefining what the body really means and encouraging people to think of themselves first when re-imagining their perceptions of beauty and power."

Beauty and Body Image in the Media
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
Part of the Media Awareness Network's information about how the media portray women and girls. Focuses on how popular magazines affect body image.

Body Image and Your Health
http://www.4woman.gov/BodyImage/index.cfm
Government-sponsored Web site promoting women's health. Includes basic information about health topics related to body image: healthy eating, staying active, cosmetic surgery, eating disorders, and teaching children about body image.

Body Image ... Some Interesting Facts
http://www.about-face.org/r/facts/bi.shtml
Offers quick facts about women, eating disorders, body image and cultural impact.

Videos

Cult of the Beautiful Body: Observations from the Plane of Body Consciousness
College Library Main Collection: BF 697.5 B63 C96 1999

Killing Us Softly series

• Still Killing Us Softly: : Advertising's Image of Women
  College Library Women's Collection: HF 5822 S74 1987
• Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising's Image of Women
  College Library Women's Collection: HF 5822 K5 2000
• Beyond Killing Us Softly: The Impact of Media Images on Women and Girls
  College Library Women's Collection: HF 5822 K55 2000

A Question of Color
College Library Ethnic Studies Collection: E 185.625 Q47 1992

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
College Library Women's Collection: HQ 798 P573 1998

Slim Hopes: Advertising and the Obsession with Thinness
College Library Women's Collection: BF 697.5 B63 S64 2002

Organizations

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/index.cfm
ASPS states that "cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem."

Love Your Body Day
http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/index.html
Official Web site of Love Your Body Day, a National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation project to support positive body image. "Offensive Ads" and "Positive Ads" raise awareness of how the media represents the female body in advertising.

National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/bodyimage
"The NWHIC provides a gateway to the vast array of Federal and other women's health information resources."