Breaking The Mold: Re-Shaping the way we combat body image dissatisfaction
Open AccessIn today’s climate of social media, celebrity culture and physical perfection the struggle with ones body image is more physically and emotionally dangerous than ever. This thesis examines the modern day societal impacts of marketing, advertising and social media messages presented to young females and the effects on ones body image. The aim of the thesis is to create a stable and collaborative space for young adolescents where they can be free of judgment, shame or the anxiety that comes with the never-ending pursuit of the socially prescribed idea of the perfect form. The goal is to uncover how the built environment might create and foster emotionally positive environments. The project highlights how the built environment can contribute to a healthier mindset regarding the body image. Some themes that will be explored include high contrast, reflection, and broken imagery. Scholarly journals and research articles will be very helpful in framing the problem and the math heavy statistical factors that contribute to the overwhelming problem of negative female body image. In addition to the more standard methods of research filed studies and analysis will be conducted with focus groups including young women ages 11-15. Social media and the rise of online influences will be a contributing factor to the problem, which will be examined as well. Body image is definitely a topic that is in the societal rhetoric more often than not. The research will clearly outline that problems such as eating disorders, depression and anxiety, low self esteem and so on are extremely pervasive and more often than not go unaddressed in any real significant way. This thesis, through the intervention of the built environment, creates a truly positive and beneficial community for young teens and tweens; along with education parents of current challenges and obstacles their children face. The built environment that will evolve based on research and feedback will be conducive to a positive exchange and community for young users to be confident and comfortable to be themselves. The interior will be more than simply a physical space but rather a community based approach to the healthy and happy development of everyday youth.
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