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The Effective Sociological Factors on Body Modification Among Tehranian Women Mitra Sarabian1, Dariush Boostani2

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The Effective Sociological Factors on Body Modification Among Tehranian Women Mitra Sarabian1, Dariush Boostani2 The effective sociological factors on body modification among Tehranian women Mitra Sarabian1, Dariush Boostani2 Journal of Research & Health Abstract Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center Body is center of many debates in sociology during last decades. Vol. 8, No. 3, May & Jun 2018 Sociologists believe that human body is a project of identity. It Pages: 262- 268 seems that women pay more attention to their body; therefore, DOI: 10.29252/jrh.8.3.262 this study investigated the effective factors on body modification Original Article of Tehranian women. Body modification includes weight control, 1. Department of Sociology, Faculty of cosmetic services, using medicines and creams, and medical Literature and Humanity, Sciences and Research University, Tehran, Iran services. Among the theories of body modification, theories of 2. Correspondence to: Department of Social Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, and Brayan Turner were Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, selected as the theoretical framework of this research; then Iran research model and hypothesis were extracted. The statistical Email: [email protected] population was all of the Tehranian women at the age range of 22-44 years. Using multi-stage cluster sampling method, Received: 23 Feb 2016 384 women were selected. A researcher-made questionnaire Accepted: 14 Dec 2016 was used for data collection. The results of the study showed How to cite this article: Sarabian M, Boostani that body modification can have a significant relationship with D. The effective sociological factors on body modification among Tehranian women. J consumerism, media consumption, personal identity, social class Research Health2018; 8(3): 262- 268. and age. Moreover, nearly 47% of body modification changes were explained by “consumerism”, 7% by “media consumption”, and 12% by “personal identity”. The results showed that the age group of 25-35 years has the highest practice of body modification. Furthermore, “social class” showed a positive significant relationship with body modification. According to the theories of Giddens, Bourdieu and Turner, it can be concluded that modernity and its components consumerism, hegemony of media, and identification influences the body modification of Tehranian women. Keywords: Modification, Consumption, Identity, Women Introduction In recent years, human body has been studied such as weight control, cosmetic services, using as an important subject by sociologists. The medicines and creams, and medical services. importance of body has been shown both in Sociologists have conceptualized body as a empirical research and sociological theorization 'project' that is worked on and transformed [1]. The previous studies [2-7] showed that as a central part of self-identity [2]. It’s been humans have formed their bodies through accepted in sociology that the body is a central different methods, including a wide range of picture we have from ourselves [8,9]. In the traditional methods such as food control and modern society, women and girls are exposed neck lift or modern ways like cosmetic surgeries. to the bombard of standard social messages Accordingly, Body modification means actions and body size [10]. Women have much more Sarabian and Boostani dissatisfaction with body than men. This is is also practical and through understanding because of normative pressure and object-like effective variables on body modification, outlook on body in consuming and capitalist the results can be used in policy making and societies. Women are often the subject of planning for mass media and advertisement gazing. So, they go on a regime or do a plastic for these products to improve the status quo surgery or experience nutritive disorders with a and help resolving the current and future higher probability [11]. problems. There are some factors showing the necessity According to the theoretical discussion of and significance of a research, including its the study, the theoretical framework of this scientific problem, its relation to a big or study has been drawn based on the theories influential population and filling the gap of of Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, and previous studies [12]. Over-sensitivity to body Bryan Turner. and its appearance has led to problems such According to Bourdieu [22], the people’s as nourishment disorder, confidence decrease, appearance shows their social position more thinness, physical injuries, etc. [13]. This than their personal character; also personality sensitivity is higher in women and young girls and clothing are not separated from each other in comparison to men [8, 13-19]. and people’s clothing have been considered The results of Swami’s [20] study demonstrated as an indication of their social class or a meaningful difference between beauty professional character. In our time, fashions ideals and body dissatisfaction in different and clothing modes have been under the regions. Age, body mass index, and western influence of pressure groups, advertisements, media predicted the ideal weight. Tiggemann socio-economic factors, and the other factors and Ruutel [14] found that women under less that promote mandatory standards more influence of Western-American culture (Estonia) than the individual differences. One of the experience less body dissatisfaction. Moreover, most important factors in today's life style gender differences were observed in these two is perhaps the influence of mass media, countries and women experienced more body especially TV (Television) [22]. Capitalism dissatisfaction and desired to lose weight. Study based on consumption, with efforts to of Rezaei et al., [21] indicated a meaningful equalizing the consumption and shape the relationship between body management and tastes of the people through advertising, plays factors such as consumerism, social pressure, a key role in promoting self-infatuation. The and media consumption. Zokai et al., [19] idea of creation of a well-trained community indicated that selecting the surgery has been an has been finished against waves of pervasive attempt at reaching individual satisfaction. consumerism since a long time ago. Under Previous studies indicated that media the consuming-conditions, the society is consumption, socio-economic class, gaining dominated by appearances [22]. status features and confidence, and the effect of Pierre Bourdieu considers the physical capital international cultural pressures through mass as one of the cultural sub-capital, and a type media are among the special values of the forms of cultural source which has been invested and sizes of the ideal body which are effective into the body [23]. He believes that the on the behavior of people. The role of media physical capital in the social shaping of the in inspiring the ideal image of the body and body using the activities is in accordance with the tendency to correct and manipulate attitude individuals’ class position and considers the and its relationship with nutritive disorders and relationship between everyone and his body social pressures are effective on individuals’ as one of the fundamental aspects of the class tendency to reach the specified standards. character [23]. Measuring body modification is important Turner [24] believes that project of the body practically and theoretically. The present study is a lifelong project that may have a need 263 Sociological study of body modification in women to be managed and maintained. Focus on Method maintenance and “body project” in the Western The present study was a quantitative interpretation (post-modernity) at the time of study utilizing survey method. A closed mass consumption, He considers the body as a questionnaire was applied for data collection. project which has become a permanent process The modifying variables mentioned on the that is considered to be a flexible entity; and questionnaire were of two kinds: dependent constantly being renovated. Turner [25] believes variable included weight control, cosmetic that the contemporary scientific interest should services, using medicines, creams, and be regarded as a response to fundamental medical-cosmetic services and independent changes in the relationship between the body and variables consisted of age(three age group), economy, simulation technology, and society. consumerism; social class (three categories), Scientific advances, especially reproductive media consumption, and personal identity. technologies and therapeutic simulations have The study population were all 20-40 years encountered the body with some problems. The old women in Tehran (N=1,838,455) in emphasis on consumerism has caused more 2014. Since the framework of sampling was attention to pleasure as a result of changes in not specified and statistical population was the perception of the body. He believes that the to some extent heterogeneous, multi-stage contemporary anxiety about diet and obesity cluster sampling was used. Accordingly, 22 on the body lead to development of the rational areas were divided into low, mid, and high accounts on body and application of knowledge class based on socio-economic situations. in the social system of control [25]. Turner [25] Then, 10 areas were selected from these believes that the idea of creating a body has three main areas which were 1,2,3,4,5,6,12, been appeared by medical technology providing 26,27,28. In this sampling, first a sample plastic surgery, cosmetic, dentistry, etc. is selected among the areas followed by Measuring
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