Abstract
Beden olumlama, kendini kabul etmeyi ve farklı beden biçimlerinin normalliğini vurgulayan, sosyal medya platformlarında son yıllarda ivme kazanan bir hareketi ifade etmektedir. Genel olarak zayıflığı idealleştiren geleneksel güzellik standartlarına meydan okuyarak, bireyleri benzersiz fizik özelliklerini benimsemeye teşvik etmektedir.
Günümüzde beden imajı hakkındaki tartışmalar için TikTok önemli bir mecra haline gelmiştir. Platformun hızlı yapısı kullanıcıları dayatılan güzellik ideallerine maruz bırakmakta, olumsuz beden imajına ve sosyal karşılaştırmalara yok açmaktadır. Beden olumlama videolarının içeriklerinin kullanıcıların hem ruh sağlığı ve hem öz algıları üzerinde olumlu ve olumsuz etkileri olabileceği çeşitli araştırmalara konu olmaktadır. TikTok’ta beden olumlama videolarına maruz kalmanın kendinden memnun olmayı artırabileceği ve özellikle genç kadınlar üzerinde pozitif etkileri olabileceği tartışılmaktadır.
Bu çalışmanın amacı beden olumlama videolarının beden olumlama ilkeleriyle uyumluluğunu ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmanın evrenini TikTok’ta paylaşılan tüm videolar, örneklemini ise TikTok’ta #bodypositivity, #bodypositivityvideos, #bodypositivitytrends hashtagleri ile 2 Kasım 2024 tarihinde yapılan arama sonucunda listelenen 120 video oluşturmaktadır. Videolar beden olumlama ilkeleri olan çeşitlilik, bedene saygı ve sevgi, sağlık, topluluk desteği, güçlendirme ve onur açısından incelenmiş ve içerik analizi yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir.
Sonuç olarak, TikTok'taki beden olumlama videolarının genellikle genç, beyaz kadınları tasvir ettiği görülmüştür. Videoların %93'ü Batı kültürüne dayalı güzellik ideallerini somutlaştırmakta, %50'si sadece büyük bedenleri tasvir etmekte, %32,2'si olumlu beden imajı mesajları içermektedir. Videolarda olumsuz görünüme odaklı temalar veya nesneleştiren içerikler nadir olup, çelişkili mesajlar yer almamaktadır. TikTok'taki beden olumlama videoları gerçekçi olmayan güzellik ideallerini teşvik etmemektedir.
Genel olarak, TikTok’taki beden olumlama videolarının, beden olumlama hareketinin temel ilkelerini geniş kitlelere ulaştırmada etkili bir araç olduğu söylenebilir. Bu içeriklerin, toplumda beden çeşitliliğini ve kendi bedenini kabul etmeyi gündeme taşıyarak, öneminin anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunduğu düşünülmektedir.
Keywords
References
- Aubrey, J. S., Zeng, J., Saha, K., Gahler, H., & Dajches, L. (2024). The body positive… or the body neutral? A content analysis of body positivity and body neutrality hashtagged videos on TikTok. Body image, 50, 101737. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101737
- Cohen, R., Irwin, L., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2019). #bodypositivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram. Body image, 29, 47-57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.02.007
- Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2020). The case for body positivity on social media: Perspectives on current advances and future directions. Journal of Health Psychology, 26(13), 2365-2373. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320912450
- Dhadly, P. K., Kinnear, A., & Bodell, L. P. (2023). #BoPo: Does viewing body positive TikTok content improve body satisfaction and mood? Eating Behaviors, 50, 101747. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101747
- Hallward, L., Feng, O., & Duncan, L. R. (2023). An exploration and comparison of #BodyPositivity and #BodyNeutrality content on TikTok. Eating Behaviors, 50, 101760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101760
- Harriger, J. A., Thompson, J. K., & Tiggemann, M. (2023). TikTok, TikTok, the time is now: Future directions in social media and body image. Body image, 44, 222-226. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.01.005
- Harriger, J. A., Wick, M. R., Sherline, C. M., & Kunz, A. L. (2023). The body positivity movement is not all that positive on TikTok: A content analysis of body positive TikTok videos. Body image, 46, 256-264. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.06.003
- Lazuka, R. F., Wick, M. R., Keel, P. K., & Harriger, J. A. (2020). Are We There Yet? Progress in Depicting Diverse Images of Beauty in Instagram’s Body Positivity Movement. Body image, 34, 85-93. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.001
- Raiter, N., Husnudinov, R., Mazza, K., & Lamarche, L. (2023). TikTok Promotes Diet Culture and Negative Body Image Rhetoric: A Content Analysis. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(10), 755-760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.001
- Rupp, K., & McCoy, S. M. (2023). Understanding Health Behaviors, Weight Perceptions, and Body Appreciation of Young Adult Women Engaged in the Body Positivity Movement. Women's Health Issues, 33(5), 551-559. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2023.05.004
- Suren, N. (2024). “Love From Me and My Belly”: The Politics and Performance of Body Positivity on Instagram. International Journal of Communication; Vol 18 (2024). https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/22250/4695
- Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body image, 14, 118-129. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.001
Abstract
Body positivity refers to a movement that emphasizes self-acceptance and the normalization of diverse body types, gaining momentum on social media platforms in recent years. By challenging traditional beauty standards that idealize thinness, it encourages individuals to embrace their unique physical characteristics.
In contemporary discussions about body image, TikTok has become a significant platform. Its fast-paced nature exposes users to imposed beauty ideals, leading to negative body image and social comparisons. The impact of body positivity videos on users' mental health and self-perception has been the subject of various studies. Exposure to body positivity videos on TikTok has been argued to increase self-acceptance and may have positive effects, especially on young women.
This study aims to evaluate the alignment of body positivity videos with the principles of the body positivity movement. The population of the study consists of all videos shared on TikTok, with the sample including 120 videos listed under the hashtags #bodypositivity, #bodypositivityvideos, and #bodypositivitytrends as of November 2, 2024. The videos were analyzed using content analysis in terms of the core principles of body positivity: diversity, inclusivity, respect and love for the body, health, community support, empowerment, and dignity.
The results indicate that body positivity videos on TikTok predominantly depict young, white women. Of the videos, 93% reflect beauty ideals rooted in Western culture, 50% portray only plus-size bodies, and 32.2% convey positive body image messages. Negative appearance-focused themes or objectifying content were rare, and contradictory messages were not observed. Overall, TikTok’s body positivity videos do not promote unrealistic beauty ideals.
In conclusion, TikTok's body positivity videos appear to be an effective tool for spreading the movement's core principles to broader audiences. By bringing attention to body diversity and self-acceptance, these videos are considered to contribute to raising awareness of the importance of embracing one's body.
Keywords
References
- Aubrey, J. S., Zeng, J., Saha, K., Gahler, H., & Dajches, L. (2024). The body positive… or the body neutral? A content analysis of body positivity and body neutrality hashtagged videos on TikTok. Body image, 50, 101737. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101737
- Cohen, R., Irwin, L., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2019). #bodypositivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram. Body image, 29, 47-57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.02.007
- Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2020). The case for body positivity on social media: Perspectives on current advances and future directions. Journal of Health Psychology, 26(13), 2365-2373. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320912450
- Dhadly, P. K., Kinnear, A., & Bodell, L. P. (2023). #BoPo: Does viewing body positive TikTok content improve body satisfaction and mood? Eating Behaviors, 50, 101747. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101747
- Hallward, L., Feng, O., & Duncan, L. R. (2023). An exploration and comparison of #BodyPositivity and #BodyNeutrality content on TikTok. Eating Behaviors, 50, 101760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101760
- Harriger, J. A., Thompson, J. K., & Tiggemann, M. (2023). TikTok, TikTok, the time is now: Future directions in social media and body image. Body image, 44, 222-226. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.01.005
- Harriger, J. A., Wick, M. R., Sherline, C. M., & Kunz, A. L. (2023). The body positivity movement is not all that positive on TikTok: A content analysis of body positive TikTok videos. Body image, 46, 256-264. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.06.003
- Lazuka, R. F., Wick, M. R., Keel, P. K., & Harriger, J. A. (2020). Are We There Yet? Progress in Depicting Diverse Images of Beauty in Instagram’s Body Positivity Movement. Body image, 34, 85-93. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.001
- Raiter, N., Husnudinov, R., Mazza, K., & Lamarche, L. (2023). TikTok Promotes Diet Culture and Negative Body Image Rhetoric: A Content Analysis. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(10), 755-760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.001
- Rupp, K., & McCoy, S. M. (2023). Understanding Health Behaviors, Weight Perceptions, and Body Appreciation of Young Adult Women Engaged in the Body Positivity Movement. Women's Health Issues, 33(5), 551-559. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2023.05.004
- Suren, N. (2024). “Love From Me and My Belly”: The Politics and Performance of Body Positivity on Instagram. International Journal of Communication; Vol 18 (2024). https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/22250/4695
- Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body image, 14, 118-129. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.001
Details
| Primary Language | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Social Media Studies |
| Journal Section | TOBİDER - International Journal of Social Sciences Volume 8 Issue 4 |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | December 25, 2024 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | November 26, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | December 25, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2024 Volume: 8 Issue: 4 |