Upon first glance, this portfolio is a collection of ideas and stories. However, like any good ethnography, there is a purpose behind my research and ideas. From a young age, I, like most young women, experienced a certain body dysmorphia that severely affected my perceptions of body image. My study on the clients of Girls Incorporated’s Monroe County, Indiana branch has resurfaced questions that have long puzzled me about adolescence and body image. My observations have allowed me to provide solutions to these questions that describe the possible remedies for unhealthy body image perceptions.
The blog posts reflect a concentration on the appearances of body image in my fieldnotes, recorded during weeks of volunteer work and observation hours at Girls Incorporated. These posts represent the culmination of all my observations and experiences not only while doing service work, but also throughout my life. My blog posts acted as a sounding board where I could reflect on my ideas and thoughts without fully tying them together.
The larger projects were the culmination of the ideas set forth in my blog posts. Each paper represents a different stage in my research. The first, the Positioning Essay, demonstrates my first understanding of ethnographies and their impact on culture. The second essay, the Verbal and Visual Portrait, shed light on the issue of body dysmorphia within Girls Inc. and among the general public. The Critical Bibliographic Essay exemplifies the issue body dysmorphia poses to the future generations of successful women. The final ethnography presents the issue in a broader context than the previous papers and offers solutions for the epidemic of body dysmorphia.
The combination of observation, interactions, and reflection on the issue of body dysmorphia and adolescent body images is presented in this portfolio. It is my hope that this work will only continue to inspire ethnographers as well as interested parties to raise awareness for and advocate for policies that will enhance the health of future generations.
Semester Overview
Major Projects:
The Emergence of Equality
Strong, Smart, and Bold
The Rise of Dysmorphia in Classical Dancers
A Tentative Solution to an Alarming Statistic
Supporting Projects:
Reflections on Culture
Mirrors
An Afternoon with Katie
My “WOAH!” Moment
No comments:
Post a Comment