Published September 12, 2025 by Weinala Hailati

One media product that closely inspires my project is the documentary Miss Representation (Newsom, 2011). Although the film broadly examines how media shapes women’s self-perceptions and societal opportunities, what I found most compelling was its ability to balance individual stories with expert analysis. The film combines interviews with young women, activists, and academics, weaving these voices into a larger critique of how media constructs and perpetuates gendered norms. This combination of personal narrative and structural analysis mirrors what I hope to achieve in my own MA project, which will focus on how social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram amplify body image anxiety and eating concerns among female college students. To make a similar project, I will need strong interviewing skills, careful planning of visual storytelling, and the ability to create a tone that balances empathy with critical insight.

In order to accomplish my project, I will also need to develop both technical and research-related background knowledge. From previous coursework, I already have significant experience making short documentaries, and I especially enjoy conducting interviews. I feel confident in my ability to guide conversations, ask meaningful questions, and create a comfortable space where people can share their personal stories. However, my production skills are not as strong. I am not very familiar with how to capture high-quality images, and I often struggle with recording clear audio—my sound tends to come out uneven or distracting. These are areas I know I need to improve through practice this semester. On the research side, Perloff (2014) points out that while there is extensive literature on mass media and body image, “there has been relatively little theoretically-driven research on processes and effects of social media on young women’s body image and self-perceptions” (p. 364). This gap highlights why my project is timely and necessary. Perloff further argues that the interactive and visual nature of social media—“working via negative social comparisons, transportation, and peer normative processes”—can significantly influence body dissatisfaction and disordered eating (p. 365). These insights provide a theoretical framework that will strengthen the foundation of my project. By combining my strength in interviewing with improved technical skills and these scholarly perspectives, I will be better prepared to produce a documentary that is both impactful and responsible.

References

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002

Perloff, R. M. (2014). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles, 71(11–12), 363–377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6

Newsom, J. S. (Director). (2011). Miss Representation [Film]. Girls’ Club Entertainment.

This week I read the article “Social Media Use and Body Image Disorders: Association Between Frequency of Comparing One’s Own Physical Appearance to Others’ Physical Appearance on Social Media and Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorders” by Fardouly et al. (2015). The study investigates how frequent appearance-related comparisons on social media platforms are linked to negative body image outcomes, particularly among young women. Using survey data, the authors found that higher levels of comparison correlated strongly with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. The article highlights the role of visual-based platforms (such as Facebook and Instagram) in promoting unrealistic body ideals and amplifying appearance-based anxiety.

This article contributes directly to my project because it provides empirical evidence that social media engagement—especially appearance-related comparison—is a critical factor in shaping body image anxiety among female students. My documentary aims to explore the lived experiences behind these statistics, giving voice to students who feel pressured by constant exposure to filtered images and diet trends. While the article is quantitative and focuses on correlations, my work will build on this by presenting narrative and visual storytelling that humanizes these findings. It affirms that my project has both academic and social relevance, as it connects personal stories with broader cultural patterns identified in the literature.

This week, I worked on refining my topic. At first, my project idea was too broad—simply “female college students and body anxiety.” After further research, I decided to narrow my focus to the impact of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram on eating habits and body image. I also drafted potential interview questions and started thinking about which students I could approach as participants. Next week, I plan to gather at least two more academic sources and possibly schedule my first informal conversation with a peer to test my interview prompts.

Reference
Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002

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