body ideals

New publication in journal of Counseling Psychology: “Girl, I think my butt gettin’ big”: The importance of “thickness” in music videos for Dutch Black and White women’s body image.

U.S. commercial women rappers often promote a “thick hourglass” body ideal in their music. This qualitative study, guided by social comparison theory and self-discrepancy theory, explores how 10 Black and 10 White Dutch women rap fans, aged 18–25, compared their actual body image with this ideal and the emotional consequences that result. A hybrid comparative thematic analysis revealed that both Black and White respondents view the thick ideal as dominant in women rap and part of Black culture. They consider it a standard of beauty and sexiness, when achieved naturally and not through plastic surgery. Comparing their actual body image to this ideal can evoke positive outcomes, such as body satisfaction and the motivation to work toward this ideal through exercise or by choosing clothing that better expresses it. However, it can also lead to negative body images and emotions, such as insecurity, especially when this ideal is perceived as difficult or impossible to attain, or when peers or family expect conformity to this ideal. For Black women, comparison to the thick ideal may result in more positive outcomes, and this ideal is more frequently endorsed by their social context compared with White women. These findings indicate that for rap fans, the Afrocentric thick ideal is more relevant than a Eurocentric thin ideal, highlighting the importance of developing healthy body interventions targeting gender and cultural and contextual beliefs. Further, this knowledge can increase practitioners’ ability to integrate an influential media genre when working with young adults across different cultures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

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