In a study to be published next year in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, reality shows like How to Look Good Naked, which aim to boost body image, actually make viewers feel worse about themselves.
Over a hundred female college students were divided into three groups and surveyed about mood, body anxiety and weight dissatisfaction.
One group watched How to Look Good Naked, another watched Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model, and the third watched a nature documentary.
The happiest? Those who watched the nature documentary, of course.
Top Model viewers were more miserable after watching the show. While How to Look Good Naked viewers reported no change in mood, viewers of both reality shows reported significant increases in body anxiety and weight dissatisfaction.
“Because the focus is on the body, you become more aware of your own concerns and how you feel about your body,” lead researcher, Viren Swami, told the Huffington Post. “The women [on How to Look Good Naked] all have problems with their bodies and are trying to improve them. The implicit suggestion is that you should be doing the same.”
If you're deliberating, remote in hand, you're probably better off turning on the Discovery Channel or, better yet, turning off the television altogether.
Do you watch these shows? Do they make you feel better or worse about your body?
In a bid to liven up a dull commute, Londoners and New Yorkers have taken to snapping pics of sexy fellow travellers.
A whole website is devoted to posting the faces of hunky commuters who've been “Tube crushed.” Or, the American equivalent: SubwayCrush.net.
In a modern twist on candid camera, a hunky man's mug shot is captured on a cell phone and then posted on these sites.
And later -- as in the case of Mr White Shirt -- commented on and polled according to hunkiness.
Admittedly, cell phone cameras are so discreet these days, and it's men rather than women being objectified for once. While most comments are complimentary, isn't the site an invasion of privacy?
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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Want to be taken seriously at work? Then slap on some makeup. Sad but true.
According to a new Harvard study, made up women on the job are perceived as more competent, likeable and trustworthy by colleagues.
The study by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute flashed the faces of 25 women, made up to different degrees. More than 250 people grilled pegged those women more noticeably made up to be more competent than their démaquillée counterparts.
Despite the hordes feminists jumping up and down in naked outrage, the correlation speaks volumes.
A case of chicken or egg? Does wearing makeup make us feel (and act) more confident, or are we simply perceived to be so?
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